03/10/1998 03:05 PM House HES

HB 367 - PART-TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLLMENT                            
                                                                               
Number 1279                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was HB 367,               
"An Act relating to part-time public school students; and providing            
for an effective date."                                                        
                                                                               
Number 1203                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON made a motion to move HB 367 from committee.              
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER asked the sponsor to explain the bill.                   
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON explained HB 158 which passed both houses                 
unanimously last year clearly stated that a school district cannot             
deny a part-time student unless enrollment would have been denied              
to a full-time student.  He read, "A governing body is not required            
to allow a part-time enrollment if 1) the enrollment would have                
been denied even if the enrollee were a full-time student."  It                
basically states that a part-time student will be treated the same             
as a full-time student.  His answer to concerns raised about a                 
senior needing the class to graduate is, if a school would indeed              
discriminate against other full-time students who didn't need it,              
then give it to the student needing it for graduation.  He had                 
expected the Department of Education to quickly move to bring                  
regulations into conformity with HB 158, but in the meantime HB 367            
clarifies that a part-time student cannot be discriminated against.            
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER noted his intention to support HB 367, but a             
visiting educator had advised him of an unintended consequence.  In            
at least one school district, some otherwise full-time students                
needing only one or two courses to graduate were taking advantage              
of this provision and becoming part-time students which perhaps                
gives students too much leisure time at the wrong time.                        
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if there was objection to the motion to move              
HB 367 with attached fiscal notes from committee.  Hearing none,               
HB 367 passed from the House Health, Education and Social Services             
Standing Committee.