HBA-PDH H.B. 659 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 659 By: Coleman Public Education 3/4/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law does not specifically authorize school districts to keep school campuses open after school hours for recreational purposes or tutoring. Concerns regarding potential liability may cause some schools not to remain open after school hours. H.B. 659 authorizes school districts to keep school campuses open after school hours for recreational activities and tutoring and provides school employees and volunteers immunity from liability, to the same extent as a school district's professional employees or volunteers, when serving in after school programs at public school facilities during non-school hours. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to a school district's board of trustees in SECTION 1 (Section 11.165, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, by adding Section 11.165, as follows: Sec. 11.165. ACCESS TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES. Authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school district to adopt rules to keep school campuses, including school libraries, open for recreational activities and tutoring after school hours. Provides that a professional employee or volunteer serving in an after school program under this section is immune from liability to the same extent as a school district's professional employees or volunteers. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective beginning with the 1999-2000 school year. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.