By Wilson                                              H.B. No. 147

      75R1933 CAS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to creation of Silver Quill awards to recognize

 1-3     individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the

 1-4     field of public education.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 39, Education Code, is

 1-7     amended by adding Section 39.113 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 39.113.  SILVER QUILL AWARDS.  (a)  The governor may

 1-9     present Silver Quill awards to individuals, including professional

1-10     educators and members of the public, who have demonstrated

1-11     outstanding leadership in the field of public education.

1-12           (b)  The governor may not present more than 10 awards each

1-13     year.

1-14           (c)  The commissioner shall develop criteria for the award

1-15     and shall assist the governor in evaluating individuals nominated

1-16     for the award.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.