HBA-DMD H.B. 335 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 335
By: Seaman
Public Education
4/21/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, school districts are allowed to offer prekindergarten
classes. The Early Childhood Development Center on the campus of Texas A&M
University--Corpus Christi (university) provides a facility that a local
school district could benefit from if the school district and university
were allowed to contract for the purpose of offering prekindergarten
classes. H.B. 335 authorizes the university to operate a prekindergarten
program under a contract  with a school district in the same region. This
bill provides that the program is considered to be an educational program
of the school district in the same manner as any other prekindergarten
program. This bill also sets forth that any child who meets certain age
requirements is eligible for enrollment in the prekindergarten program. It
authorizes the university to operate a prekindergarten program on a
full-day basis with approval of the school district.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 87, Education Code, by adding
Section 87.403, as follows: 

Sec. 87.403. EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER. Authorizes Texas A&M
University--Corpus Christi (university), in connection with its
instructional and research programs, to operate a prekindergarten program
under a contract  with a school district in the same region. Provides that
the program is considered to be an educational program of the school
district in the same manner as any other prekindergarten program
established under Section 29.153 (Prekindergarten).  Sets forth that any
child who meets the age requirements of Section 29.153 is eligible for
enrollment in the prekindergarten program, notwithstanding provisions in
Section 29.153(b) (which state that a three-year-old is eligible for
enrollment in prekindergarten if unable to speak and comprehend English, if
educationally disadvantaged, or if homeless).  Authorizes the university to
operate a prekindergarten program on a full-day basis with approval of the
school district, notwithstanding Section 29.153(c) (requiring the program
to be operated on a half-day basis).    

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
          Effective date:  upon passage.