HBA-LJL S.B. 189 77(R)    H.B.A.-JEK S.B. 189 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 189
By: Lindsay
Public Education
3/29/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Juvenile justice alternative education programs (JJAEPs) in counties of
125,000 or more are required to operate for 180 days per year.  Unlike
school districts, JJAEPs may not apply for a waiver of the 180-day rule.
Some JJAEPs operate in the same service area as school districts that have
received a waiver of exemption from the 180-day requirement.  Operating the
school district and the JJAEP on a parallel schedule might improve JJAEP
attendance and be simpler for some teachers, students, and parents.  Senate
Bill 189 authorizes JJAEPs in counties of 125,000 or more to request a
waiver of the 180-day requirement. 

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

Senate Bill 189 amends the Education Code to authorize a juvenile justice
alternative education program (JJAEP) in a county of 125,000 or more to
apply to the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) for a waiver of the
required 180 days of operation.  The bill prohibits TJPC from granting a
waiver to a JJAEP for a number of days that exceeds the highest number of
instructional days waived by the commissioner of education during the same
school year for a school district served by the JJAEP. 

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.