HBA-JEK, MPM H.B. 40 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 40 By: McClendon Public Education 3/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The trend in Texas schools over the past decade has been for school districts to move their school start dates earlier and earlier into August. Last year, 95 percent of Texas public schools started between August 7th and August 18th. As a result, student absentee rates and school utility costs have climbed higher and higher for the month of August. Shorter summer school breaks decreases the income of working students and teachers who work second jobs during the summer. The Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates that the Texas tourism industry loses $332 million per year and that migrant farm workers lose out on another $27 million in earnings foregone due to the early school start dates. House Bill 40 requires public school districts to begin school on the day after Labor Day. 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 40 amends the Education Code to require each school district in Texas to start the school year the day after Labor Day. If the district adopts a year-round system, the bill authorizes the school district to modify the first day of the school year as necessary. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on the 91st day after adjournment and applies beginning with the fall semester 2001.