BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2230

By: Bucy

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies are designated as components of the required foundation curriculum for public school districts. Meanwhile, the enrichment curriculum consists of languages other than English, health, physical education, fine arts, career and technical education, technology applications, religious literature, and personal financial literacy. Fine arts education has shown to be effective in preparing the 21st-century workforce by developing creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration, which are all skills important to a student's foundational knowledge. As such, there have been calls for fine arts education to be included as part of the foundation curriculum. H.B. 2230 seeks to address this issue by requiring the commissioner of education to establish a task force to conduct a study on incorporating fine arts into the foundation curriculum in public school districts.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2230 requires the commissioner of education to establish a task force to study the utility, efficacy, and feasibility of incorporating fine arts into the foundation curriculum in public school districts and sets out the composition of the task force. The task force must prepare a written report that includes:

· a description of the activities of the task force;

· an analysis of incorporating fine arts into the foundation curriculum, including impacts on specified issues;

· recommendations for legislative or other action; and

· any other matters the task force considers appropriate.

The bill requires the task force, not later than September 1, 2022, to submit the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, legislature, and commissioner of education. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2023.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.