By Linebarger H.B. No. 2607 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the rights of teachers in public schools. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 13, Education Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 13.219 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 13.219. BILL OF RIGHTS FOR TEACHERS. (a) It is 1-7 declared to be the public policy of the State of Texas that 1-8 teachers, whose work is vital to the success of education, shall be 1-9 entitled to dignity and respect equal to the high standards of 1-10 service justly demanded of them. The State of Texas recognizes 1-11 that the children of the state deserve an education of the highest 1-12 quality, and it is declared to be the public policy of the State of 1-13 Texas that teachers shall be assisted in providing such an 1-14 education to children. The provisions of this section shall be 1-15 liberally construed in order to carry out the above declarations of 1-16 public policy. 1-17 (b) Teachers in Texas' public schools shall be: 1-18 (1) treated with dignity and respect in all aspects of 1-19 their professional lives; 1-20 (2) treated as an equal partner in the decision-making 1-21 processes involved in the instruction of children; 1-22 (3) guaranteed academic freedom in the study, 1-23 investigation, presentation, and interpretation of facts and ideas; 2-1 (4) freed from noninstructional paperwork; 2-2 (5) entitled to full administrative support in all 2-3 matters involving student discipline; 2-4 (6) entitled to clean, well-maintained working 2-5 facilities; 2-6 (7) provided all materials and supplies necessary for 2-7 instruction; 2-8 (8) guaranteed a work environment free of threats to 2-9 themselves and their property; 2-10 (9) guaranteed due process in all matters affecting 2-11 their employment; 2-12 (10) protected from public reprimand or public 2-13 disciplinary action; and 2-14 (11) paid a salary that will afford a family a 2-15 standard of living comparable to that of other professions. 2-16 SECTION 2. Section 13.218, Education Code, is repealed. 2-17 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-22 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-23 passage, and it is so enacted.