SB784 - Relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are children of peace officers.

      By: King S.B. No. 784     (Noble)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are   children of peace officers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A local innovation plan may not provide for the   exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from   the following provisions of this title:                (1)  a state or federal requirement applicable to an   open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D,   Chapter 12;                (2)  Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that   a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and   Section 11.162;                 (3)     transfers of students who are the children of   peace officers under Section 25.0344;                 (4)  [ (3) ]  state curriculum and graduation   requirements adopted under Chapter 28; and                 (5)  [ (4) ]  academic and financial accountability and   sanctions under Chapters 39 and 39A.          SECTION 2.  Section 25.0344, Education Code, as added by   Chapter 322 (H.B. 1959), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2023, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding   Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:          (b)  On request of a peace officer who is a parent of or   person standing in parental relation to a student, the board of   trustees of a school district or the board's designee shall   transfer the student to :                 (1)   another district campus ; or                 (2)  any other [ to another ] school district in this   state, regardless of whether the sending district and the receiving   district have entered into [ under ] an agreement under Section   25.035.           (e)     Notwithstanding any other law, both the sending   district and the receiving district must approve a transfer under   this section without exception.           (f)     A school district may not charge a tuition fee under   Section 25.038 to a student who transfers to the district under this   section.          SECTION 3.  Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, as amended   by this Act, applies only to a local innovation plan adopted or   renewed on or after the effective date of this Act.  A local   innovation plan adopted or renewed before the effective date of   this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the plan was   adopted or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.