_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the Education Interim Committee

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO SCHOOL ADMISSION; REQUIRING TRUSTEES TO ALLOW CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES THAT ARE RELOCATING TO MONTANA UNDER MILITARY ORDERS TO PRELIMINARILY ENROLL IN CLASSES PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY; AMENDING SECTION 20-5-101, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 20-5-101, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-5-101. Admittance of child to school. (1) The trustees shall assign and admit a child to a school in the district when the child is:

(a) 5 years of age or older on or before September 10 of the year in which the child is to enroll but is not yet 19 years of age;

(b) a resident of the district; and

(c) otherwise qualified under the provisions of this title to be admitted to the school.

(2) The trustees of a district may assign and admit any nonresident child to a school in the district under the tuition provisions of this title.

(3) The trustees may at their discretion assign and admit a child to a school in the district who is under 5 years of age or an adult who is 19 years of age or older if there are exceptional circumstances that merit waiving the age provision of this section. The trustees may also admit an individual who has graduated from high school but is not yet 19 years of age even though no special circumstances exist for waiver of the age provision of this section.

(4) The trustees shall assign and admit a child who is homeless, as defined in the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (Public Law 100-77), to a school in the district regardless of residence. The trustees may not require an out-of-district attendance agreement or tuition for a homeless child.

(5) The trustees shall assign and admit a child whose parent or guardian is being relocated to Montana under military orders to a school in the district and allow the child to preliminarily enroll in classes and apply for programs offered by the district prior to arrival and establishing residency.

(5)(6) Except for the provisions of subsection (4), tuition for a nonresident child must be paid in accordance with the tuition provisions of this title.

(6)(7) The trustees' assignment of a child meeting the qualifications of subsection (1) to a school in the district outside of the adopted school boundaries applicable to the child is subject to the district's grievance policy. Upon completion of procedures set forth in the district's grievance policy, the trustees' decision regarding the assignment is final."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.