Senate Bill 2351

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-15-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PROOF OF PURCHASE OF A CAR TAG IN THE PROPER COUNTY OR AN AFFIDAVIT BY THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN COUNTIES ON THE MISSISSIPPI BORDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-15-9. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, no child shall be enrolled or admitted to any kindergarten which is a part of a public school during any school year unless such child will reach his fifth birthday on or before September 1 of said school year, and no child shall be enrolled or admitted to the first grade in any public school during any school year unless such child will reach his sixth birthday on or before September 1 of said school year. No pupil shall be permanently enrolled in a public school in the State of Mississippi who formerly was enrolled in another public or private school within the state until the cumulative record of the pupil shall have been received from the school from which he transferred. Should such record have become lost or destroyed, then it shall be the duty of the superintendent or principal of the school where the pupil last attended school to initiate a new record.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, any child who transfers from an out-of-state public or private school in which that state's law provides for a first-grade or kindergarten enrollment date subsequent to September 1, shall be allowed to enroll in the public schools of Mississippi, at the same grade level as their prior out-of-state enrollment, if:

(a) The parent, legal guardian or custodian of such child was a legal resident of the state from which the child is transferring;

(b) The out-of-state school from which the child is transferring is duly accredited by that state's appropriate accrediting authority;

(c) Such child was legally enrolled in a public or private school for a minimum of four (4) weeks in the previous state; and

(d) The superintendent of schools in the applicable Mississippi school district or the principal of a charter school, as the case may be, has determined that the child was making satisfactory educational progress in the previous state.

(3) When any child applies for admission or enrollment in any public school in the state, the parent, guardian or child, in the absence of an accompanying parent or guardian, shall indicate on the school registration form if the enrolling child has been expelled from any public or private school or is currently a party to an expulsion proceeding. If it is determined from the child's cumulative record or application for admission or enrollment that the child has been expelled, the school district or charter school may deny the student admission and enrollment until the superintendent of the school, or his designee, or principal of the charter school, as the case may be, has reviewed the child's cumulative record and determined that the child has participated in successful rehabilitative efforts including, but not limited to, progress in an alternative school or similar program. If the child is a party to an expulsion proceeding, the child may be admitted to a public school pending final disposition of the expulsion proceeding. If the expulsion proceeding results in the expulsion of the child, the public school may revoke such admission to school. If the child was expelled or is a party to an expulsion proceeding for an act involving violence, weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or other activity that may result in expulsion, the school district or charter school shall not be required to grant admission or enrollment to the child before one (1) calendar year after the date of the expulsion.

(4) Effective with the 2015-2016 school year, when any child applies for admission or enrollment in any public school located in a county on the Mississippi border, the parent or legal guardian shall be required to submit proof that the current road and bridge privilege license tax and ad valorem taxes on any and all motor vehicles owned by the parent or guardian have been paid to the county tax collector of the county in which the school is located. If the family does not own or lease a vehicle, the local school superintendent shall allow the parent or legal guardian to sign an affidavit stating that he or she resides in the school district but does not own or lease a vehicle. In the event that the parent or legal guardian is unable to provide such proof of payment of the proper taxes or an affidavit, the child may be conditionally admitted or enrolled to attend school for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days until such time as such proof is submitted to the proper school official.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.