MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Brown (20th)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-15-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE CHILDREN OF RETIRED INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL OR LICENSED EMPLOYEES OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO RESIDE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT OF EMPLOYMENT, TO CONTINUE TO BE ENROLLED AND ATTEND THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE ENROLLMENT AT THE TIME OF HIS OR HER PARENT'S OR LEGAL GUARDIAN'S RETIREMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-15-29. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this section, no minor child may enroll in or attend any school except in the school district of his residence, unless such child be lawfully transferred from the school district of his residence to a school in another school district in accord with the statutes of this state now in effect or which may be hereafter enacted.
(2) (a) Those
children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are instructional personnel or * * * licensed employees of a
school district may, at such employee's discretion, enroll and
attend the school or schools of their parent's or legal guardian's employment
regardless of the residence of the child.
(b) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are retired instructional personnel or retired licensed employees of a school district may, at such retired employee's discretion, continue to enroll and attend the school or schools of the district of their parent's or legal guardian's employment at the time of his or her retirement regardless of the residence of the child.
(3) No child shall be required to be transported in excess of thirty (30) miles on a school bus from his or her home to school, or in excess of thirty (30) miles from school to his or her home, if there is another school in an adjacent school district located on a shorter school bus transportation route by the nearest traveled road. Those children residing in such geographical situations may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend the nearer school, regardless of the residence of the child. In the event the parent or legal guardian of such child and the school board are unable to agree on the school bus mileage required to transport the child from his or her home to school, an appeal shall lie to the State Board of Education, or its designee, whose decision shall be final. The school districts involved in the appeal shall provide the Mississippi Department of Education with any school bus route information requested, including riding the buses as necessary, in order to measure the bus routes in question, as needed by the State Board of Education in considering the appeal.
(4) Those children lawfully transferred from the school district of his residence to a school in another school district prior to July 1, 1992, may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), continue to enroll and attend school in the transferee school district. Provided further, that the brother(s) and sister(s) of said children lawfully transferred prior to July 1, 1992, may also, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend school in the transferee school district.
(5) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are active members of the United States Armed Forces or civilian military personnel and reside on a military base, may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend the school district of their parent's or legal guardian's choosing, regardless of the residence of the child, provided the school district where the student resides or in an adjacent school district and the parent's or guardian's choice of school district does not violate the provision of subsection (3) of this section prohibiting the transportation of students in excess of thirty (30) miles.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.