HBA-GUM C.S.H.B. 3239 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 3239
By: Denny
Public Education
5/3/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature enacted a provision which requires a
school district to hold a public meeting within its boundaries except as
required by law or except to hold a joint meeting with another district.
An exception was not made for holding a joint meeting with a governmental
entity such as a city council or county commissioners court if the council
chambers or court building is located outside the district's boundaries.
C.S.H.B. 3239 allows a school board to hold public meetings outside the
district's boundaries to meet jointly with a governmental entity if the
boundaries of the governmental entity, in whole or in part, lie within the
boundaries of the district. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 26.007(b), Education Code, to provide that a
joint meeting between the board of trustees of a school district and a
governmental entity is not required to be held within the boundaries of the
district if the boundaries of the governmental entity are in whole or in
part within the boundaries of the district. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
 Effective date: upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute modifies SECTION 1 (Section 26.007(b)) of the original by
adding language to provide that a joint meeting under Section 26.007(b) may
be held if the boundaries of the governmental entity are in whole or in
part within the boundaries of the district. 

The substitute modifies the original by adding a new SECTION 2 to provide
that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.  SECTION 2
of the original, removed by the substitute, establishes an effective date
of September 1, 1999. 

The substitute modifies SECTION 3 of the original by using the long, rather
than short, emergency clause, and thereby providing that this Act is
effective upon passage.