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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 public officials and |
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candidates for public office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 11.159(c-1) and (d), Education Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The agency shall, for the training required by |
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Subsection (c)(1): |
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(1) provide the training; and |
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(2) certify the completion of the training by a |
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trustee or candidate for trustee [must be research-based and |
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designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees |
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under Section 11.1515]. |
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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 [or through another authorized provider. A provider must |
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certify the completion of the training by a trustee or candidate]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 74.025, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 74.025. EDUCATION PROGRAMS. The court of criminal |
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appeals shall, if adequate funding is available for education |
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programs for judges and court personnel, ensure that adequate |
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education programs are available through an institution of higher |
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education or the State Bar of Texas on an equitable basis for judges |
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and court personnel of courts created under the constitution and |
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laws of this state. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 418.005(d) and (e), Government Code, |
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are 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 governmental body [other entity] |
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providing the training shall provide a certificate of course |
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completion to a person who completes the training required by this |
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section. A person who completes the training required by this |
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section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the |
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record of the person's completion of the training. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 551.005(b) and (c), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is |
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made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the |
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training and may also approve any acceptable course of training |
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offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney |
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general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved |
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or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a |
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functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The |
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training must include instruction in: |
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(1) the general background of the legal requirements |
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for open meetings; |
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(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental |
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bodies; |
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(3) procedures and requirements regarding quorums, |
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notice, and recordkeeping under this chapter; |
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(4) procedures and requirements for holding an open |
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meeting and for holding a closed meeting under this chapter; and |
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(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to |
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comply with this chapter. |
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(c) The office of the attorney general or other governmental |
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body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of |
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course completion to persons who complete the training required by |
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this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make |
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available for public inspection the record of its members' |
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completion of the training. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 552.012(d) and (e), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is |
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made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the |
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training and may also approve any acceptable course of training |
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offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney |
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general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved |
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or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a |
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functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The |
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training must include instruction in: |
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(1) the general background of the legal requirements |
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for open records and public information; |
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(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental |
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bodies; |
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(3) procedures and requirements regarding complying |
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with a request for information under this chapter; |
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(4) the role of the attorney general under this |
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chapter; and |
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(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to |
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comply with this chapter. |
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(e) The office of the attorney general or other governmental |
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body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of |
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course completion to persons who complete the training required by |
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this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make |
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available for public inspection the record of its public officials' |
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or, if applicable, the public information coordinator's completion |
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of the training. |
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SECTION 6. Section 2054.519(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) To be certified under Subsection (a), a cybersecurity |
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training program must: |
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(1) focus on forming information security habits and |
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procedures that protect information resources; [and] |
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(2) teach best practices for detecting, assessing, |
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reporting, and addressing information security threats; and |
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(3) be provided by a state agency or local government. |
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SECTION 7. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 180.011. OFFICER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING |
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REQUIREMENTS. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the |
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governing body of a municipality, a member of a school board, an |
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elected county officer, or an individual appointed to fill a |
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vacancy in an elective county office is not required to attend or |
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complete any continuing education training required for the office. |
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SECTION 8. Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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(c) Continuing education required by this section must be: |
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(1) approved by the comptroller; and |
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(2) 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 9. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 418.005(g), Government Code; |
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(2) Section 2054.519(c), Government Code; |
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(3) Section 81.0025, Local Government Code; |
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(4) Section 83.003, Local Government Code; and |
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(5) Section 84.0085, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 10. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board of Education shall modify all rules |
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that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 11. Sections 11.159, Education Code, 418.005, |
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551.005, 552.012, and 2054.519, Government Code, and 6.231, Tax |
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Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to training conducted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. Training conducted before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |