By: Lucio S.B. No. 433
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the first instructional day of a school year for public
1-2 school students.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 25.0811 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 25.0811. FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. A school district
1-7 may not begin instruction for students for a school year before
1-8 September 1. The commissioner shall grant exemptions on written
1-9 request by the school district.
1-10 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 25.084, Education Code,
1-11 is amended to read as follows:
1-12 (a) A school district may operate its schools year-round on
1-13 either a single-track or a multitrack calendar. If a school
1-14 district adopts a year-round system, the district may modify:
1-15 (1) the number of contract days of employees and the
1-16 number of days of operation, including any time required for staff
1-17 development, planning and preparation, and continuing education,
1-18 otherwise required by law;
1-19 (2) testing dates, data reporting, and related
1-20 matters; [and]
1-21 (3) the first day of instruction for students for a
1-22 school year; and
1-23 (4) a student's eligibility to participate in
2-1 extracurricular activities when the student's calendar track is not
2-2 in session.
2-3 SECTION 3. Section 25.0811, Education Code, as added by this
2-4 Act, and Subsection (a), Section 25.084, Education Code, as amended
2-5 by this Act, apply beginning with the 1997-1998 school year.
2-6 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-12 passage, and it is so enacted.