S.B. No. 1557
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to military-connected students, including providing a
  designation for certain school district campuses that take actions
  to assist those students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.006(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  In this section, "military-connected student" means a
  student enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school who:
               (1)  is a dependent of a current or former member of:
                     (A) [(1)]  the United States military [serving in
  the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard on active
  duty];
                     (B) [(2)]  the Texas National Guard; or
                     (C) [(3)]  a reserve force of the United States
  military; or
               (2)  was a dependent of a member of a military or
  reserve force described by Subdivision (1) who was killed in the
  line of duty.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.909 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.909.  PURPLE STAR CAMPUS. (a)  In this section,
  "military-connected student" has the meaning assigned by Section
  25.006.
         (b)  The agency shall designate a school district campus as a
  Purple Star Campus if the campus applies and qualifies for the
  designation under this section.
         (c)  To qualify as a Purple Star Campus, a campus must:
               (1)  designate a staff member as a military liaison,
  whose duties include:
                     (A)  identifying military-connected students
  enrolled at the campus through the Public Education Information
  Management System (PEIMS);
                     (B)  serving as the point of contact between the
  campus and military-connected students and their families;
                     (C)  determining appropriate campus services
  available to military-connected students; and
                     (D)  assisting in coordinating campus programs
  relevant to military-connected students;
               (2)  maintain on the campus Internet website an easily
  accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected
  students and their families, including information regarding:
                     (A)  relocation to, enrollment at, registration
  at, and transferring records to the campus;
                     (B)  academic planning, course sequences, and
  advanced classes available at the campus;
                     (C)  counseling and other support services
  available for military-connected students enrolled at the campus;
  and
                     (D)  the military liaison designated under
  Subdivision (1) and the liaison's duties under that subdivision;
               (3)  maintain a transition program led by students,
  where appropriate, that assists military-connected students in
  transitioning into the campus;
               (4)  offer professional development for staff members
  on issues related to military-connected students; and
               (5)  offer at least one of the following initiatives:
                     (A)  a resolution showing support for
  military-connected students and their families;
                     (B)  recognition of the Month of the Military
  Child or Military Family Month with relevant events hosted by the
  campus; or
                     (C)  a partnership with a local military
  installation that provides opportunities for active duty military
  members to volunteer at the campus, speak at an assembly, or host a
  field trip.
         (d)  To comply with a requirement under Subsection (c)(2),
  (4), or (5), a school district campus may partner with the district
  to provide:
               (1)  an Internet website web page required under
  Subsection (c)(2) if the campus does not have an Internet website;
               (2)  professional development required under
  Subsection (c)(4); or
               (3)  an initiative required under Subsection (c)(5).
         (e)  The agency shall adopt rules as necessary to administer
  this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2019.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the Senate on
  April 11, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the House on
  May 14, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 1, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor