HBA-LJP H.B. 2910 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2910 By: Reyna, Arthur Public Education 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the commissioner of education is authorized to make grants to school districts and openenrollment charter schools to expand existing half-day kindergarten or prekindergarten programs to a fullday basis. A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class if the child is at least three years of age and is unable to speak and comprehend the English language, educationally disadvantaged, or homeless; however a disadvantaged student who is eligible for Title I service is not necessarily eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten program. House Bill 2910 authorizes the use of a prekindergarten grant by a school district that receives the grant for operating an existing half-day prekindergarten program on a full-day basis to educate students who are eligible for the school district's Title I program. 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 2910 amends the Education Code to authorize a school district that receives a grant for operating an existing half-day prekindergarten program on a full-day basis to use the funds received under the grant to educate students who are unable to speak and comprehend the English language, educationally disadvantaged, homeless, or students who qualify for the school district's Title I program. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.