By Luna S.B. No. 1158
75R8109 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to regional education service centers.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 8, Education Code, is amended to read as
1-5 follows:
1-6 CHAPTER 8. REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS
1-7 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1-8 Sec. 8.001. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commissioner [agency]
1-9 shall provide for the establishment and operation of a system of
1-10 [not more than 20] regional education service centers.
1-11 (b) Regional education service centers shall be located
1-12 throughout the state so that each school district has the
1-13 opportunity to be served by and to participate, [in an approved
1-14 center] on a voluntary basis, in a center that meets the
1-15 accountability standards established by the commissioner.
1-16 (c) The commissioner may decide any matter concerning the
1-17 operation or administration of the system of regional education
1-18 service centers, including:
1-19 (1) the number and location of centers;
1-20 (2) the regional boundaries of centers; and
1-21 (3) the allocation among centers of state and federal
1-22 funds administered by the agency.
1-23 (d) This chapter does not:
1-24 (1) limit a school district's freedom to purchase
2-1 services from any regional education service center; or
2-2 (2) require a school district to purchase services
2-3 from a regional education service center.
2-4 Sec. 8.002. PURPOSE. The system of regional [(a) Regional]
2-5 education service centers shall:
2-6 (1) [, at the direction of the commissioner, provide
2-7 services to] assist school districts in improving student
2-8 performance in each region of the system;
2-9 (2) enable school districts to operate more
2-10 efficiently and economically; and
2-11 (3) implement initiatives assigned by the legislature
2-12 or the commissioner [increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of
2-13 school operations].
2-14 [(b) In addition to core services a regional education
2-15 service center is required to offer under Section 8.051, a school
2-16 district or campus may purchase any other available service from
2-17 any center.]
2-18 Sec. 8.003. GOVERNANCE. (a) Each regional education
2-19 service center is governed by a board of directors composed of
2-20 seven members.
2-21 (b) The commissioner shall adopt [recommend to the State
2-22 Board of Education for adoption uniform] rules to provide for the
2-23 local selection, appointment, and continuity of membership of
2-24 regional education service center boards of directors.
2-25 (c) A vacancy on a regional education service center board
2-26 of directors shall be filled by appointment by the remaining
2-27 members of the board for the unexpired term.
3-1 (d) A member of the board is not entitled to compensation
3-2 from the regional education service center but is entitled to
3-3 reimbursement with center funds for necessary expenses incurred in
3-4 performing duties as a board member.
3-5 (e) Each regional education service center board of
3-6 directors shall develop policies to ensure the sound management and
3-7 operation of the center consistent with Section 8.002. [The board
3-8 of directors shall be directly involved in the planning and
3-9 evaluation of programs and activities developed and offered to
3-10 school districts and campuses under Section 8.051 or 8.052.]
3-11 (f) Each regional education service center board of
3-12 directors shall adopt an annual budget for the following year after
3-13 conducting a public hearing on the center's performance during the
3-14 preceding year on standards established by the commissioner under
3-15 Section 8.101.
3-16 Sec. 8.004. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The regional education
3-17 service center board of directors shall employ an executive
3-18 director. The selection and dismissal of the executive director is
3-19 subject to the approval of the commissioner. The executive
3-20 director is the chief executive officer of the regional education
3-21 service center and may employ personnel as necessary to carry out
3-22 the functions of the center.
3-23 Sec. 8.005. EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION. A regional education
3-24 service center and its employees are subject to or exempt from
3-25 taxation in the same manner as a school district and school
3-26 district employees.
3-27 Sec. 8.006. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. An employee or
4-1 volunteer of a regional education service center is immune from
4-2 liability to the same extent as an employee or volunteer of a
4-3 school district.
4-4 Sec. 8.007. PERSONAL LEAVE. (a) A regional education
4-5 service center may accept personal leave accrued by a center
4-6 employee:
4-7 (1) under state law by an employee who was formerly
4-8 employed by the state; or
4-9 (2) under Section 22.003 by an employee who was
4-10 formerly employed by a school district.
4-11 (b) A school district or the state shall accept the personal
4-12 leave accrued by an employee who was formerly employed by a
4-13 regional education service center.
4-14 SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
4-15 Sec. 8.051. [CORE] SERVICES TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. (a)
4-16 Each regional education service center shall use funds distributed
4-17 to the center under Section 8.121 to develop, maintain, and deliver
4-18 services identified under this section to improve student and
4-19 school district performance.
4-20 (b) Each regional education service center shall annually
4-21 develop and submit to the commissioner for approval a plan for
4-22 improvement. Each plan must include the purposes and description
4-23 of the services the center will provide to:
4-24 (1) campuses identified as low-performing based on the
4-25 indicators adopted under Section 39.051;
4-26 (2) the lowest-performing campuses in the region; and
4-27 (3) other campuses.
5-1 (c) Each regional education service center shall provide
5-2 services that enable school districts to operate more efficiently
5-3 and economically [for developing and maintaining core services for
5-4 purchase by school districts and campuses. The core services are:]
5-5 [(1) training and assistance in teaching each subject
5-6 area assessed under Section 39.023;]
5-7 [(2) training and assistance in providing each program
5-8 that qualifies for a funding allotment under Section 42.151,
5-9 42.152, 42.153, or 42.156;]
5-10 [(3) assistance specifically designed for a school
5-11 district rated academically unacceptable under Section 39.072(a) or
5-12 a campus whose performance is considered unacceptable based on the
5-13 indicators adopted under Section 39.051;]
5-14 [(4) training and assistance to teachers,
5-15 administrators, members of district boards of trustees, and members
5-16 of site-based decision-making committees; and]
5-17 [(5) assistance in complying with state laws and
5-18 rules].
5-19 Sec. 8.052. STATE INITIATIVES. As directed by the
5-20 commissioner, each regional education service center shall, as
5-21 necessary, use funds distributed under Section 8.123 to implement
5-22 initiatives identified by the legislature.
5-23 Sec. 8.053. ADDITIONAL SERVICES. In addition to the [core]
5-24 services provided [listed] under Section 8.051 and the initiatives
5-25 implemented under Section 8.052, a regional education service
5-26 center may offer any service requested and purchased by any school
5-27 district or campus in the state.
6-1 [Sec. 8.053. PLANNING AND REPORTING. Each regional
6-2 education service center shall:]
6-3 [(1) prepare a quantitative summary, by school
6-4 district and campus, of services delivered under Sections 8.051 and
6-5 8.052;]
6-6 [(2) report audited financial and performance
6-7 information using the uniform system adopted by the commissioner;
6-8 and]
6-9 [(3) perform any other duty the commissioner
6-10 determines is necessary under Subchapter C.]
6-11 Sec. 8.054. PROHIBITION ON REGULATORY FUNCTION. A regional
6-12 education service center may not perform a regulatory function
6-13 regarding a school district. This section does not prohibit a
6-14 regional education service center from offering training or other
6-15 assistance to a school district in complying with a state or
6-16 federal law, rule, or regulation.
6-17 Sec. 8.055. REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER PROPERTY. (a)
6-18 Each regional education service center may purchase or lease
6-19 property or acquire property through lease-purchase and may incur
6-20 debts for that purpose. The board of directors may, with the
6-21 commissioner's approval, approve a transaction under this
6-22 subsection.
6-23 (b) Each regional education service center may dispose of
6-24 property in the manner and on the terms that the board of directors
6-25 determines.
6-26 SUBCHAPTER C. EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
6-27 Sec. 8.101. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND INDICATORS. The
7-1 commissioner shall establish performance standards and indicators
7-2 for regional education service centers that measure the achievement
7-3 of the objectives in Section 8.002. Performance standards and
7-4 indicators must at least measure a center's:
7-5 (1) assistance to school districts in improving
7-6 student performance;
7-7 (2) promotion of more efficient and economical school
7-8 district operations, including operations in the areas of
7-9 curriculum and instruction, data processing, purchasing, staff
7-10 development, technology support, and administrative services; and
7-11 (3) implementation of initiatives assigned by the
7-12 legislature and the commissioner.
7-13 Sec. 8.102. DATA REPORTING. Each regional education service
7-14 center shall report audited or budgeted financial information and
7-15 any other information requested by the commissioner for use in
7-16 assessing the performance of the center. The commissioner shall
7-17 develop a uniform system for regional education service centers to
7-18 report audited financial data, to report information on the
7-19 indicators adopted under Section 8.101, and to provide information
7-20 on client satisfaction with services provided under Subchapter B
7-21 [and performance data].
7-22 Sec. 8.103 [8.102]. ANNUAL EVALUATION. The commissioner
7-23 shall conduct an annual evaluation of each executive director and
7-24 regional education service center. Each evaluation must include:
7-25 (1) an audit of the center's finances [and
7-26 management];
7-27 (2) a review of the center's performance on the
8-1 [academic excellence] indicators adopted under Section 8.101
8-2 [identified in Section 39.051 of each school district and campus in
8-3 the center's region]; [and]
8-4 (3) a review of client satisfaction with services
8-5 provided under Subchapter B; and
8-6 (4) a review of any other factor the commissioner
8-7 determines to be appropriate.
8-8 Sec. 8.104 [8.103]. SANCTIONS. The commissioner shall
8-9 develop [recommend to the State Board of Education for approval] a
8-10 system of corrective actions to require of a regional education
8-11 service center that the commissioner determines to be deficient in
8-12 an accountability measure under Section 8.103 [8.102]. The actions
8-13 must include, in increasing order of severity:
8-14 (1) conducting an on-site investigation of the center;
8-15 (2) requiring the center to send notice of each
8-16 deficiency to each school district and campus in the center's
8-17 region or served by the center the previous year;
8-18 (3) [(2)] requiring the center to prepare for the
8-19 commissioner's approval a plan to address each area of deficiency;
8-20 [(3) conducting an on-site investigation of the
8-21 center;]
8-22 (4) appointing a master to oversee the operations of
8-23 the center;
8-24 (5) replacing the executive director or board of
8-25 directors; and
8-26 (6) in the case of deficient performance in two
8-27 consecutive years, closing the center.
9-1 SUBCHAPTER D. FUNDING
9-2 Sec. 8.121. FUNDING FOR [CORE] SERVICES TO IMPROVE
9-3 PERFORMANCE. (a) Regional education service centers receive
9-4 state financial support for services provided under Section 8.051
9-5 from money appropriated for [to] the Foundation School Program
9-6 [for that purpose]. The commissioner shall distribute money to
9-7 each regional education service center for basic costs of providing
9-8 those [core] services according to an annual allotment set by the
9-9 commissioner based on:
9-10 (1) the minimum amount of money necessary for the
9-11 operation of a center; [and]
9-12 (2) an additional amount of money that reflects the
9-13 size and number of campuses served by the center under Section
9-14 8.051; and
9-15 (3) an additional amount of money that reflects [the
9-16 number of students in a center's service area and] the impact of
9-17 the geographic size of a center's service area on the cost of
9-18 providing [core] services under Section 8.051.
9-19 (b) The allotments authorized by Subsection (a) in any year
9-20 may not be less than 0.4 percent of the amount appropriated for
9-21 purposes of the Foundation School Program for that year.
9-22 (c) Each regional education service center shall use money
9-23 distributed to it under this section for the provision of [core]
9-24 services required under Section 8.051 or for payment of necessary
9-25 administrative and operational expenses of the center related to
9-26 the provision of those [core] services.
9-27 Sec. 8.122. INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR DISTRICT EFFICIENCIES.
10-1 (a) The legislature may appropriate money from the foundation
10-2 school fund to establish an incentive fund to encourage efficiency
10-3 in the provision of services by the system of regional education
10-4 service centers.
10-5 (b) The commissioner may submit to each regular session of
10-6 the legislature an incentive funding report and plan that:
10-7 (1) demonstrates that regional education service
10-8 centers are providing the services required or permitted by law;
10-9 (2) defines efficiencies of scale in measurable terms;
10-10 (3) proposes the size of and payment schedule for the
10-11 incentive fund; and
10-12 (4) establishes a method for documenting and computing
10-13 efficiencies.
10-14 (c) The commissioner shall determine the method by which
10-15 money appropriated under this section is distributed to regional
10-16 education service centers.
10-17 (d) The board of trustees of a school district may delegate
10-18 purchasing or other administrative functions to a regional
10-19 education service center to the extent necessary to achieve
10-20 efficiencies under this section. [PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS FOR
10-21 ADDITIONAL SERVICES. (a) After providing for the payment of basic
10-22 costs of providing core services under Section 8.121, the
10-23 commissioner may distribute the remaining money appropriated to the
10-24 Foundation School Program and money from other sources to regional
10-25 education service centers or school districts for the costs of
10-26 providing additional services.]
10-27 [(b) The commissioner may designate the amount of money
11-1 available for distribution under Subsection (a) and the purposes
11-2 for which the money may be used. In determining the allocation of
11-3 money distributed under Subsection (a), the commissioner shall
11-4 consider:]
11-5 [(1) the scope and cost-effectiveness of the services
11-6 involved;]
11-7 [(2) the number of students in a school district or in
11-8 an area served by a regional education service center, as
11-9 applicable; and]
11-10 [(3) the impact of the geographic size of a school
11-11 district or of an area served by a regional education service
11-12 center on the cost of providing services.]
11-13 [(c) As soon as possible after enactment of the General
11-14 Appropriations Act each biennium, the commissioner shall notify
11-15 each school district and regional education service center of the
11-16 amount of money available for distribution under this section and
11-17 the purposes for which the money may be used.]
11-18 [(d) If a school district requests direct distribution of
11-19 money under this section to provide an additional service, the
11-20 commissioner and district may enter into a performance contract
11-21 that specifies the purpose for which the money will be used and the
11-22 expected results of the expenditure. After entering into a
11-23 performance contract with a school district, the commissioner shall
11-24 distribute to the district 90 percent of the funds available for
11-25 the service and distribute the remaining 10 percent to the regional
11-26 education service center for the region in which the district is
11-27 located. The school district may provide the service specified in
12-1 the performance contract independently, in cooperation with one or
12-2 more other school districts, or through a contract with one or more
12-3 public or private entities, including a regional education service
12-4 center for a region other than the region in which the district is
12-5 located.]
12-6 [(e) If a district elects to receive an additional service
12-7 from the regional education service center for the region in which
12-8 the district is located, the district shall execute a performance
12-9 contract with the center, subject to approval by the commissioner,
12-10 that specifies the purpose for which the money will be used and the
12-11 expected results of the expenditure. The commissioner shall
12-12 distribute the entire amount of money available for the service to
12-13 the regional education service center in accordance with the
12-14 performance contract.]
12-15 Sec. 8.123. FUNDING FOR STATE INITIATIVES [GRANTS].
12-16 (a) The legislature may appropriate money from the foundation
12-17 school fund or other sources to implement initiatives identified by
12-18 the legislature.
12-19 (b) The commissioner may adopt rules governing:
12-20 (1) the strategies, programs, projects, and regions
12-21 eligible for funding under this section; and
12-22 (2) the amount of funds that may be distributed to a
12-23 regional education service center for a specific initiative.
12-24 Sec. 8.124. INNOVATIVE AND EMERGENCY GRANTS. (a) The
12-25 legislature may appropriate money from the foundation school fund
12-26 or other sources for grants to regional education service centers.
12-27 Money appropriated under this section shall be distributed to
13-1 regional education service centers as:
13-2 (1) competitive grants for developing and implementing
13-3 innovative regional strategies or programs; or
13-4 (2) emergency grants for providing adequate [core]
13-5 services under Section 8.051 to small and isolated school districts
13-6 or, in extreme circumstances, other school districts.
13-7 (b) The commissioner may adopt rules governing:
13-8 (1) the strategies, programs, and regions eligible for
13-9 funding under this section; and
13-10 (2) the amount of money that may be distributed to a
13-11 regional education service center for a specific purpose.
13-12 Sec. 8.125 [8.124]. CONTRACTS FOR GRANTS. Each regional
13-13 education service center board of directors, under rules adopted
13-14 by the commissioner [State Board of Education], may enter into a
13-15 contract for a grant from a public or private organization and may
13-16 spend grant funds in accordance with the terms of the contract.
13-17 SECTION 2. Section 7.102, Education Code, is amended to read
13-18 as follows:
13-19 Sec. 7.102. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION POWERS AND DUTIES.
13-20 (a) The board may perform only those duties relating to school
13-21 districts or regional education service centers assigned to the
13-22 board by the constitution of this state or by this subchapter or
13-23 another provision of this code.
13-24 (b) The board has the [following] powers and duties provided
13-25 by Subsection (c), which shall be carried out with the advice and
13-26 assistance of the commissioner.[:]
13-27 (c)(1) The board shall develop and update a long-range plan
14-1 for public education.
14-2 (2) The board may enter into contracts relating to or
14-3 accept grants for the improvement of educational programs
14-4 specifically authorized by statute.
14-5 (3) The board may accept a gift, donation, or other
14-6 contribution on behalf of the public school system or agency and,
14-7 unless otherwise specified by the donor, may use the contribution
14-8 in the manner the board determines.
14-9 (4) The board shall establish curriculum and
14-10 graduation requirements.
14-11 (5) The board shall establish a standard of
14-12 performance considered satisfactory on student assessment
14-13 instruments.
14-14 (6) [The board shall adopt rules to provide for
14-15 regional education service center boards of directors as provided
14-16 by Section 8.003 and rules under which a regional education service
14-17 center may receive and spend grants under Section 8.124.]
14-18 [(7)] The board may create special-purpose school
14-19 districts under Chapter 11.
14-20 (7) [(8)] The board shall provide for a training
14-21 course for school district trustees under Section 11.159.
14-22 (8) [(9)] The board shall adopt a procedure to be used
14-23 for placing on probation or revoking a home-rule school district
14-24 charter as required by Subchapter B, Chapter 12, and may place on
14-25 probation or revoke a home-rule school district charter as provided
14-26 by that subchapter.
14-27 (9) [(10)] The board may grant an open-enrollment
15-1 charter or approve a charter revision as provided by Subchapter D,
15-2 Chapter 12.
15-3 (10) [(11)] The board shall adopt rules establishing
15-4 criteria for certifying hearing examiners as provided by Section
15-5 21.252.
15-6 (11) [(12)] The board shall adopt rules to carry out
15-7 the curriculum required or authorized under Section 28.002.
15-8 (12) [(13)] The board shall establish guidelines for
15-9 credit by examination under Section 28.023.
15-10 (13) [(14)] The board shall adopt transcript forms and
15-11 standards for differentiating high school programs for purposes of
15-12 reporting academic achievement under Section 28.025.
15-13 (14) [(15)] The board shall adopt guidelines for
15-14 determining financial need for purposes of the Texas Advanced
15-15 Placement Incentive Program under Subchapter C, Chapter 28, and may
15-16 approve payments as provided by that subchapter.
15-17 (15) [(16)] The board shall adopt criteria for
15-18 identifying gifted and talented students and shall develop and
15-19 update a state plan for the education of gifted and talented
15-20 students as required under Subchapter D, Chapter 29.
15-21 (16) [(17)] The board shall adopt rules for approving
15-22 adult education programs as required under Section 29.253 and may
15-23 establish an adult education advisory committee under Section
15-24 29.254.
15-25 (17) [(18)] The board shall adopt rules relating to
15-26 community education development projects as required under Section
15-27 29.257.
16-1 (18) [(19)] The board may approve the plan to be
16-2 developed and implemented by the commissioner for the coordination
16-3 of services to children with disabilities as required under Section
16-4 30.001.
16-5 (19) [(20)] The board shall establish a date by which
16-6 each school district and state institution shall provide to the
16-7 commissioner the necessary information to determine the district's
16-8 share of the cost of the education of a student enrolled in the
16-9 Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Texas
16-10 School for the Deaf as required under Section 30.003 and may adopt
16-11 other rules concerning funding of the education of students
16-12 enrolled in the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or
16-13 the Texas School for the Deaf as authorized under Section 30.003.
16-14 (20) [(21)] The board shall adopt rules prescribing
16-15 the form and content of information school districts are required
16-16 to provide concerning programs offered by state institutions as
16-17 required under Section 30.004.
16-18 (21) [(22)] The board shall adopt rules concerning
16-19 admission of students to the Texas School for the Deaf as required
16-20 under Section 30.057.
16-21 (22) [(23)] The board shall carry out powers and
16-22 duties related to regional day school programs for the deaf as
16-23 provided under Subchapter D, Chapter 30.
16-24 (23) [(24)] The board shall adopt and purchase or
16-25 license textbooks as provided by Chapter 31 and adopt rules
16-26 required by that chapter.
16-27 (24) [(25)] The board shall develop and update a
17-1 long-range plan concerning technology in the public school system
17-2 as required under Section 32.001 and shall adopt rules and policies
17-3 concerning technology in public schools as provided by Chapter 32.
17-4 (25) [(26)] The board shall conduct feasibility
17-5 studies related to the telecommunications capabilities of school
17-6 districts and regional education service centers as provided by
17-7 Section 32.033.
17-8 (26) [(27)] The board shall appoint a board of
17-9 directors of the center for educational technology under Section
17-10 32.034.
17-11 (27) [(28)] The board shall adopt rules relating to
17-12 extracurricular activities under Section 33.081 and approve,
17-13 disapprove, or modify University Interscholastic League rules and
17-14 procedures under Section 33.083.
17-15 (28) [(29)] The board shall approve a program for
17-16 testing students for dyslexia and related disorders as provided by
17-17 Section 38.003.
17-18 (29) [(30)] The board shall perform duties in
17-19 connection with the public school accountability system as
17-20 prescribed by Chapter 39.
17-21 (30) [(31)] The board shall perform duties in
17-22 connection with the Foundation School Program as prescribed by
17-23 Chapter 42.
17-24 (31) [(32)] The board may invest the permanent school
17-25 fund within the limits of the authority granted by Section 5,
17-26 Article VII, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 43.
17-27 (32) [(33)] The board shall adopt rules concerning
18-1 school district budgets and audits of school district fiscal
18-2 accounts as required under Subchapter A, Chapter 44.
18-3 (33) [(34)] The board shall adopt an annual report on
18-4 the status of the guaranteed bond program and may adopt rules as
18-5 necessary for the administration of the program as provided under
18-6 Subchapter C, Chapter 45.
18-7 (34) [(35)] The board shall prescribe uniform bid
18-8 blanks for school districts to use in selecting a depository bank
18-9 as required under Section 45.206.
18-10 (d) [(c)] The board may adopt rules relating to school
18-11 districts or regional education service centers only as required to
18-12 carry out the specific duties assigned to the board by the
18-13 constitution or under Subsection (c) [(b)].
18-14 (e) [(d)] An action of the board to adopt a rule under this
18-15 section is effective only if the board includes in the rule's
18-16 preamble a statement of the specific authority under Subsection (c)
18-17 [(b)] to adopt the rule.
18-18 (f) [(e)] Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a
18-19 rule adopted by the board under this section does not take effect
18-20 until the beginning of the school year that begins at least 90 days
18-21 after the date on which the rule was adopted. The rule takes
18-22 effect earlier if the rule's preamble specifies an earlier
18-23 effective date and the reason for that earlier date and:
18-24 (1) the earlier effective date is a requirement of:
18-25 (A) a federal law; or
18-26 (B) a state law that specifically refers to this
18-27 section and expressly requires the adoption of an earlier effective
19-1 date; or
19-2 (2) on the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
19-3 members of the board, the board makes a finding that an earlier
19-4 effective date is necessary.
19-5 SECTION 3. Section 39.183, Education Code, is amended to
19-6 read as follows:
19-7 Sec. 39.183. REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL REPORT. The agency
19-8 shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
19-9 the speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the
19-10 legislature, the Legislative Budget Board, and the clerks of the
19-11 standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
19-12 primary jurisdiction over the public school system a regional and
19-13 district level report covering the preceding two school years and
19-14 containing:
19-15 (1) a summary of school district compliance with the
19-16 student/teacher ratios and class-size limitations prescribed by
19-17 Sections 25.111 and 25.112, including the number of districts
19-18 granted an exception from Section 25.112;
19-19 (2) a summary of the exemptions and waivers granted to
19-20 school districts under Section 7.056 or 39.112 and a review of the
19-21 effectiveness of each campus or district following deregulation;
19-22 and
19-23 (3) an evaluation of the performance of the system of
19-24 [a summary of the services offered by] regional education service
19-25 centers based on the indicators adopted under Section 8.101 and
19-26 client satisfaction with services provided under Subchapter B,
19-27 Chapter 8 [with an evaluation of the effectiveness of those
20-1 services].
20-2 SECTION 4. Section 59, Chapter 260, Acts of the 74th
20-3 Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, is repealed.
20-4 SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
20-5 section, this Act takes effect immediately.
20-6 (b) Section 8.121, Education Code, as amended by this Act,
20-7 takes effect September 1, 1997.
20-8 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
20-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
20-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
20-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
20-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
20-14 terms, and it is so enacted.