By: Schaefer H.B. No. 82
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a parent-directed supplemental services and
instructional materials program for public school students;
authorizing a fee.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. PARENT-DIRECTED SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM
       Sec. 29.751.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
             (1)  "Parent" has the meaning assigned by Section
29.041.
             (2)  "Supplemental instructional materials" includes
textbooks, computer hardware or software, other technological
devices, and other materials suitable for addressing an educational
need of a public school student.
             (3)  "Supplemental services" means an additive service
that provides an educational benefit to a public school student
including:
                   (A)  virtual, advanced, and trade-related
programs;
                   (B)  extracurricular activities;
                   (C)  private tutoring and other supplemental
private instruction or programs; and
                   (D)  college credit.
       Sec. 29.752.  ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.
(a) The agency by rule shall establish and administer a
parent-directed program for public school students through which a
parent of a student who meets the eligibility requirements for
participation in the program may select supplemental services and
supplemental instructional materials for use by the parent's
student. From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency shall
provide each student approved for participation in the program
under this subchapter a grant as provided by Section 48.305 to
purchase supplemental services and supplemental instructional
materials.
       (b)  In administering the program, the agency shall maintain
a system of online accounts to provide to an eligible student's
parent access to the grant described by Subsection (a).
       (c)  The agency shall designate one or more regional
education service centers to administer the program under this
section.
       (d)  The agency shall establish a procedure by which a
student may initiate a transfer of control of the account, from the
parent to the student, for the use of unexpended money in the
account at the time of the student's graduation in accordance with
Section 29.756(d).
       Sec. 29.753.  APPLICATION FOR GRANT ON BEHALF OF STUDENT.
The agency shall establish an application process for an eligible
student's parent to apply for a grant held in an online account
maintained under Section 29.752(b) and assigned to the student
under Section 29.755.
       Sec. 29.754.  PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. (a) The agency
shall establish eligibility criteria for the approval of an
application submitted under Section 29.753. The criteria must
require that the student be enrolled in the current school year at a
school district or open-enrollment charter school.
       (b)  The eligibility criteria established under this section
must also prioritize students for whom a school district or
open-enrollment charter school is entitled to the compensatory
education allotment under Section 48.104.
       (c)  A student may receive a grant once under this subchapter
while enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12. A student may
receive an additional grant under this subchapter if the
legislature appropriates money for that purpose.
       Sec. 29.755.  APPROVAL OF APPLICATION; ASSIGNMENT OF
ACCOUNT. The agency shall approve each student who meets the
program eligibility criteria established under Section 29.754 and
assign to the student an account maintained under Section
29.752(b). The account may only be used by the student's parent or
the student as provided by Section 29.752(d) to purchase
supplemental services or supplemental instructional materials for
the student, subject to Sections 29.756 and 29.757.
       Sec. 29.756.  ACCOUNT USE

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()