Student transfers; provide greater access to open enrollment and remove requirement for home district approval of release.

An Act To Amend Section 37-15-31, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Requirement For The School Board Of The School District Of A Child's Residence Consent To The Release Of The Student For Transfer To Another School District; To Only Require That The Transferee School Board Approve Or Refuse The Transfer Of A Student Upon Receiving Notice And Official Meeting Of The Board To Act On Such Transfer; To Authorize The Siblings Of A Lawfully Transferred Student To Enroll In The Transferee School District At The Discretion Of Their Parent(s) Or Legal Guardian(s); That A Transfer Student's Athletic Eligibility Shall Be Determined In Accordance With Rules And Regulations Promulgated By Mhsaa Governing Student Eligibility To Provide For The Allocation And Disbursement Of Funds To A Receiving School District Upon The Completion And Certification Of A Student Transfer Request; To Stipulate That A School Or District May Not Accept Or Deny Students For Transfer Based On The Student's Ability Or Disability; To Require School Districts To Publish The Number Of Available Seats Open To Transfers Within The District And Individualized By School Facility; To Require The District To Publish Such Information At A Reasonable Time Before The Start Of The School Year; To Require Districts To Adopt And Publish The Processes Used To Choose Students For Transfer; To Require The State Department To Collect And Publish Student Transfer Data, Categorized By Acceptance, Denials And Reasons For Denials; To Provide That Transfer Authority Of A District To Receive Or Deny The Acceptance Of A Student Requesting Transfer Into The District Shall Not Supersede Any Provision Of An Enforceable Desegregation Order Or A Court-approved Desegregation Plan; To Create The Student Portability And Open Enrollment Fund As A Special Fund In The State Treasury; To Provide That Monies In The Fund Shall Be Expended By The State Department Of Education, Upon Appropriation Of The Legislature, For The Purpose Of Pay