If a school district expels a child, it must refer the child to juvenile court and send required expulsion information within set deadlines.
Sec. 52.041. REFERRAL OF CHILD TO JUVENILE COURT AFTER EXPULSION. (a) A school district that expels a child shall refer the child to juvenile court in the county in which the child resides. (b) The board of the school district or a person designated by the board shall deliver a copy of the order expelling the student and any other information required by Section 52.04 on or before the second working day after the date of the expulsion hearing to the authorized officer of the juvenile court. (c) Within five working days of receipt of an expulsion notice under this section by the office or official designated by the juvenile board, a preliminary investigation and determination shall be conducted as required by Section 53.01. (d) The office or official designated by the juvenile board shall within two working days notify the school district that expelled the child if: (1) a determination was made under Section 53.01 that the person referred to juvenile court was not a child within the meaning of this title; (2) a determination was made that no probable cause existed to believe the child engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision; (3) no deferred prosecution or formal court proceedings have been or will be initiated involving the child; (4) the court or jury finds that the child did not engage in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision and the case has been dismissed with prejudice; or (5) the child was adjudicated but no disposition was or will be ordered by the court. (e) In any county where a juvenile justice alternative education program is operated, no student shall be expelled without written notification by the board of the school district or its designated agent to the juvenile board's designated representative. The notification shall be made not later than two business days following the board's determination that the student is to be expelled. Failure to timely notify the designated representative of the juvenile board shall result in the child's duty to continue attending the school district's educational program, which shall be provided to that child until such time as the notification to the juvenile board's designated representative is properly made. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 262, Sec. 20, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1015, Sec. 16, eff. June 19, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1297, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.