HB 5075

relating to the authority of school districts in certain counties
to establish alternative programs in lieu of sending students to a
juvenile justice alternative education program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 37.011, Education Code, is amended by
amending subsection (a) and adding subsection (a-6) to read as
(a)  Except as provided by subsection (a-6), the [The]
juvenile board of a county with a population greater than 125,000
shall develop a juvenile justice alternative education program,
subject to the approval of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
The juvenile board of a county with a population of 125,000 or less
may develop a juvenile justice alternative education program.  For
the purposes of this subchapter, and except as provided by
subsection (a-6), only a disciplinary alternative education
program operated under the authority of a juvenile board of a county
is considered a juvenile justice alternative education program.  A
juvenile justice alternative education program in a county with a
(1)  is not required to be approved by the department;
(2)  is not subject to Subsection (c), (d), (f), or (g).
(a-6)  Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school district
located in a county with a population greater than 125,000 is
authorized to create an alternative program to retain students who
would otherwise to be referred to a juvenile justice alternative
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.