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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a process adopted by a school district regarding |
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complaints and hearings on complaints. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.1511(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The board shall: |
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(1) seek to establish working relationships with other |
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public entities to make effective use of community resources and to |
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serve the needs of public school students in the community; |
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(2) adopt a vision statement and comprehensive goals |
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for the district and the superintendent and monitor progress toward |
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those goals; |
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(3) establish performance goals for the district |
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concerning: |
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(A) the academic and fiscal performance |
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indicators under Subchapters C, D, and J, Chapter 39; and |
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(B) any performance indicators adopted by the |
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district; |
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(4) ensure that the superintendent: |
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(A) is accountable for achieving performance |
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results; |
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(B) recognizes performance accomplishments; and |
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(C) takes action as necessary to meet performance |
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goals; |
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(5) adopt a policy to establish a district- and |
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campus-level planning and decision-making process as required |
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under Section 11.251; |
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(6) publish an annual educational performance report |
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as required under Section 39.306; |
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(7) adopt an annual budget for the district as |
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required under Section 44.004; |
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(8) adopt a tax rate each fiscal year as required under |
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Section 26.05, Tax Code; |
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(9) monitor district finances to ensure that the |
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superintendent is properly maintaining the district's financial |
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procedures and records; |
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(10) ensure that district fiscal accounts are audited |
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annually as required under Section 44.008; |
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(11) publish an end-of-year financial report for |
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distribution to the community; |
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(12) conduct elections as required by law; |
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(13) by rule, adopt a process through which district |
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personnel, students or the parents or guardians of students, and |
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members of the public may file a complaint and obtain a hearing from |
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the district administrators and the board regarding the [a] |
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complaint that must: |
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(A) allow a complaint to be filed at any time |
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regardless of when the conduct initially giving rise to the |
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complaint occurred if the complaint alleges a violation of law or |
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board policy that is continuous or ongoing; |
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(B) unless otherwise provided by law, include: |
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(i) an initial administrative hearing; and |
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(ii) an opportunity to appeal the |
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administrative decision following the initial hearing; |
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(C) unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, |
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provide for a final decision on the complaint not later than 120 |
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calendar days after the date on which the complaint was filed; and |
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(D) if a final decision on a complaint is not |
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rendered before the 120th day after the date on which the complaint |
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was filed, require the district to immediately render a final |
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decision on the complaint in favor of the complainant; |
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(14) make decisions relating to terminating the |
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employment of district employees employed under a contract to which |
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Chapter 21 applies, including terminating or not renewing an |
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employment contract to which that chapter applies; and |
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(15) carry out other powers and duties as provided by |
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this code or other law. |
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SECTION 2. The board of trustees of a school district shall |
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adopt a process for filing a complaint and obtaining a hearing in |
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accordance with Section 11.1511(b), Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |