IMF H.B. 1177 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS STATE AFFAIRS H.B. 1177 By: Hochberg 4-3-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the state does not expressly allow state employees to use sick leave for parent-teacher conferences. Occasionally teachers ask parents to meet with them concerning the educational needs and development of their children. Parents may feel unable to leave work to attend such meetings because they fear employers will not excuse their absences. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1177 would allow state employees to use 8 hours of sick leave per year to attend parent-teacher conferences for their children. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 661 of the Government Code by adding Subchapter F as follows: Sec. 661.151 (a) states that this Section applies to a state employee who is a parent of a student in grades prekindergarten through 12th. Sec. 661.151 (b) allows a state employee to use up to 8 hours of sick leave each calender year to attend parent-teacher conference for their children. Sec. 661.151 (c) requires a parent to give an employer reasonable advance notice of their intention to use sick leave to attend a parent-teacher conference. Sec. 661.151 (d) definitions. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.