BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 801

By: Seliger

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that some instructional materials on the market are not age appropriate for public school students and express concern that, without allowing the State Board of Education to assess materials for grade level and subject matter suitability, students may be exposed to inappropriate materials. S.B. 801 seeks to prevent such inappropriate exposure.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 801 amends the Education Code to require each instructional material on the instructional material list adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) to be suitable for the subject and grade level for which the instructional material was submitted and to be reviewed by academic experts in the subject and grade level for which the instructional material was submitted. The bill also requires any supplemental instructional material adopted by the SBOE to be suitable for the applicable subject and grade level and reviewed by academic experts in the applicable subject and grade level.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.