BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2044
87R11092 MLH-F	By: Men�ndez
	Education
	4/16/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In May 2009, the State of Texas proudly adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and formally became part of the national effort to address key educational transition issues such as enrollment, placement, attendance, and graduation challenges encountered by children of military families.

Revision of the Texas Education Code to align with current standards, resolve the state's compact compliance challenges, and authorize the formation of a Texas Education Council that can more effectively accomplish the goals of the compact and MIC3 to provide vital and active support for military children who live and learn in Texas.

This bill would revise Education Code, Title 4. Compacts Section 162.005, (page 27) by deleting existing text and replacing with new language that is consistent with national MIC3 recommendations which specifies frequency and conduct of council meetings, as well as setting important reporting requirements that would benefit data driven analysis in the future.

Support: San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, USAG, MIC3, MCEC, Military Impacted Schools Association � and their Texas schools, National Military Family Association, and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

As proposed, S.B. 2044 amends current law relating to the establishment of the State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 162.001, Education Code, by adding Subdivision (3) to define "State Advisory Council," for purposes of Chapter 162 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children).

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 162, Education Code, by adding Section 162.006, as follows:

Sec. 162.006. STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND COORDINATION. (a) Requires the compact commissioner responsible for administration and management of this state's participation in the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children (compact commissioner), in coordination with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), to establish the State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (State Advisory Council) to provide for coordination among state agencies, school districts, and military installations concerning the state's participation in and compliance with the compact and compact activities, as required by Article VIII of the compact.

(b) Provides that the State Advisory Council consists of the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee, a superintendent of a school district with a high concentration of military children designated by TEA, the governor or the governor's designee, the chair of the senate committee on education or a member of the senate committee on education designated by TEA, the chair of the house of representatives committee on public education or a member of the house of representatives committee on public education designated by TEA, a representative from each branch of the armed services of the United States that maintains an installation in the state, designated by TEA, and representatives of other offices and stakeholder groups TEA deems appropriate.

(c) Authorizes members of the State Advisory Council to delegate voting authority to another person for a specified meeting or meetings.

(d) Authorizes meetings of the State Advisory Council to be conducted face-to-face or by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.

(e) Requires the State Advisory Council to meet at least quarterly, and to provide State Advisory Council meeting dates, agendas, minutes, end-of-year reports, and other documentation as required to the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission.

(f) Requires the State Advisory Council to perform each function or duty required or authorized under Article VIII of the compact.

(g) Requires the State Advisory Council to establish policies and procedures governing the State Advisory Council's operations.

(h) Provides that the State Advisory Council is a governmental body for purposes of Chapter 551 (Open Meetings), Government Code.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 162.005 (State Coordination), Education Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.