HB331 Alabama 2022 Session

Under existing law, a child who is six years of age on or before December 31 is entitled to admission to the first grade in the public elementary schools, and a child who is five years of age on or before September 1 is entitled to admission to the local public school kindergartens

This bill would allow a child who becomes six years of age between September 1 and December 31, to be admitted to the first grade, as long as he or she has completed kindergarten or otherwise demonstrates first grade readiness

This bill would also provide for those circumstances where a child under five years of age on September 1 may be admitted to public kindergarten

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Section 16-28-4, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the minimum age for attendance at public schools; to require a child who becomes six years of age between September 1 and December 31 to complete kindergarten or demonstrate first grade readiness before entering the first grade; to provide for circumstances under which a child who is under five years of age on September 1 may be admitted to public kindergarten; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.