HBA-TBM, CCH H.B. 1570 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1570 By: Coleman Public Education 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a school district is required to offer prekindergarten classes if the district identifies 15 or more eligible children who are at least four years of age. However, a district may offer prekindergarten classes if it chooses. A child who is unable to speak English, at an educational disadvantage, or homeless is eligible for prekindergarten classes. A child classified as at an educational disadvantage includes those children whose family income is below 185 percent of the federal poverty index. More children would benefit from prekindergarten classes if the eligibility requirements were expanded. House Bill 1570 raises the family income eligibility requirements for prekindergarten enrollment to 200 percent of the federal poverty index. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1570 amends the Education Code to remove the provision that a child who is at least three years of age and educationally disadvantaged is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class, and provides that a child is eligible if the child is at least three years of age and has a family income that is not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level according to the poverty index prepared by the federal Office of Management and Budget. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.