Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 109	House Author:  Martinez
Effective:  Vetoed	Senate Sponsor:  Hinojosa

            House Bill 109 amends the Education Code to extend the prohibition against a public school district providing student instruction on Memorial Day to an open-enrollment charter school. The bill authorizes a local innovation plan to exempt a district of innovation from the prohibition.

Governor's Reason for Veto: "Although the purpose of House Bill 109 was to keep Texas schools closed on Memorial Day, as written it would allow up to 859 school districts to remain open on the holiday. Memorial Day is an important holiday, intended to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our country. Teaching young Texans how to respectfully celebrate this holiday is critical, and we do not accomplish this goal with a law that may require them to attend school on Memorial Day. If the goal was to create more uniformity in how charter schools and school districts celebrate holidays, the Legislature should draft a more targeted bill next session."