Senate Bill 2235

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-15-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL TRANSFER THE CHILD OF A MILITARY SERVICEMEMBER TO THE SPECIFIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DISTRICT CAMPUS REQUESTED BY THE SERVICEMEMBER; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS TO ANOTHER CAMPUS OR SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER THIS ACT; 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) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are instructional personnel or certificated 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.

(3) * * *No Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, 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) * * * (a) For purposes of this section, "servicemember" means an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the Mississippi National Guard.

(b) When a servicemember who is a parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a student makes a request to transfer such student, the school board shall transfer the student to the district campus or school district that was specifically requested by the servicemember. A school district shall not be required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus or school district under this subsection.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.