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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training requirements for certain municipal, county, |
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and school district elected officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 180.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 180.010. ELECTED OFFICER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the governing body of a |
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municipality or school board or an elected county officer is not |
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required to attend or complete any continuing education training. |
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SECTION 2. Section 551.005, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), each [Each] |
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elected or appointed public official who is a member of a |
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governmental body subject to this chapter shall complete a course |
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of training of not less than one and not more than two hours |
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regarding the responsibilities of the governmental body and its |
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members under this chapter not later than the 90th day after the |
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date the member: |
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(1) takes the oath of office, if the member is required |
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to take an oath of office to assume the person's duties as a member |
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of the governmental body; or |
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(2) otherwise assumes responsibilities as a member of |
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the governmental body, if the member is not required to take an oath |
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of office to assume the person's duties as a member of the |
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governmental body. |
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(a-1) This section does not apply to an elected public |
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official who is a member of a governmental body described by Section |
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551.001(3)(B), (C), (E), (F), or (G). |
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SECTION 3. Section 552.012, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), this [This] |
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section applies to an elected or appointed public official who is: |
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(1) a member of a multimember governmental body; |
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(2) the governing officer of a governmental body that |
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is headed by a single officer rather than by a multimember governing |
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body; or |
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(3) the officer for public information of a |
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governmental body, without regard to whether the officer is elected |
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or appointed to a specific term. |
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(a-1) This section does not apply to an elected public |
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official who is a member of a governmental body described by Section |
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552.003(1)(A)(ii), (iii), (v), (vi), or (vii). |
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SECTION 4. Section 11.159(d), Texas Education Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A trustee or candidate for trustee may complete training |
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required under Subsection (c) at a regional education service |
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center that is provided by the Texas Education Agency [or through |
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another authorized provider. A provider must certify the |
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completion of the training by a trustee or candidate]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 418.005(d)-(e), Texas Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The division may provide the training and may also |
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approve any acceptable course of training provided [offered] by a |
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governmental body [or other entity]. The division shall ensure |
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that at least one course of training approved or provided by the |
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division is available on videotape or a functionally similar and |
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widely available medium at no cost. |
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(e) The division [or other entity providing the training] |
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shall provide a certificate of course completion to a person who |
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completes the training required by this section. A person who |
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completes the training required by this section shall maintain and |
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make available for public inspection the record of the person's |
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completion of the training. |
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SECTION 6. Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended read as |
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follows: |
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(c) Continuing education required by this section must be |
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approved and provided by the comptroller [a state agency] or an |
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accredited institution of higher education, including an |
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institution that is a part of or associated with an accredited |
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institution of higher education, such as the V. G. Young Institute |
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of County Government. |
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SECTION 7. The following provisions of the Local Government |
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Code are repealed: |
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(1) Section 81.0025; and |
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(2) Section 83.003. |
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SECTION 8. The following provisions of the Texas Education |
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Code are repealed: |
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(1) Section 11.159(c-1). |
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SECTION 9. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board of Education shall repeal all rules |
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that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |