By Dukes H.B. No. 2322 76R7275 BDH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to creation, powers, and duties of the Task Force on 1-3 Educational Aides. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON EDUCATIONAL AIDES. The Task Force 1-6 on Educational Aides is created to identify and review the role of 1-7 educational aides and the needs of public school students, 1-8 including special education students. 1-9 SECTION 2. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed of: 1-10 (1) two members of the senate, appointed by the 1-11 lieutenant governor; 1-12 (2) two members of the house of representatives, 1-13 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1-14 (3) two members who are teachers, appointed by the 1-15 Commissioner of Education from a slate of nominees provided by 1-16 statewide educator organizations that represent teachers; 1-17 (4) eight members who are educational aides, appointed 1-18 by the Commissioner of Education from a slate of nominees provided 1-19 by statewide educator organizations that represent educational 1-20 aides; 1-21 (5) a representative of boards of trustees of school 1-22 districts, appointed by the Commissioner of Education from a slate 1-23 of nominees provided by a statewide association that represents 1-24 boards of trustees of school districts; 2-1 (6) a representative of school administrators, 2-2 appointed by the Commissioner of Education from a slate of nominees 2-3 provided by a statewide association that represents school 2-4 administrators; 2-5 (7) a representative of parent-teacher associations, 2-6 appointed by the Commissioner of Education from a slate of nominees 2-7 provided by a statewide association that represents parent-teacher 2-8 associations; 2-9 (8) a member appointed by the State Board for Educator 2-10 Certification; 2-11 (9) a member who is an employee of a regional 2-12 education service center established under Chapter 8, Education 2-13 Code, and who has experience in staff development, appointed by the 2-14 Texas Education Agency; 2-15 (10) a member who provides staff development services 2-16 for educational aides, appointed by the Texas Education Agency; 2-17 (11) a member who is a university employee in charge 2-18 of teacher education program development, appointed by the Texas 2-19 Higher Education Coordinating Board; 2-20 (12) a member who is a community college employee in 2-21 charge of continuing education program development, appointed by 2-22 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and 2-23 (13) a member of the general public, appointed by the 2-24 governor. 2-25 (b) The public member appointed by the governor is the 2-26 presiding officer of the task force. 2-27 SECTION 3. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the call 3-1 of the presiding officer. 3-2 SECTION 4. STAFF AND EXPENSES. (a) The Texas Education 3-3 Agency shall provide necessary support staff to the task force. 3-4 (b) Members of the task force other than members of the 3-5 legislature are entitled to reimbursement, from funds appropriated 3-6 to the Texas Education Agency, for travel expenses incurred in 3-7 performing duties under this Act, subject to any limitation in the 3-8 General Appropriations Act for travel by state employees. Members 3-9 of the legislature are entitled to reimbursement for those expenses 3-10 in the same manner as expenses for other legislative duties. 3-11 SECTION 5. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force shall 3-12 develop recommendations regarding: 3-13 (1) minimum entrance standards for educational aides; 3-14 (2) minimum knowledge and skill requirements for 3-15 educational aides in each of the various programs and position 3-16 levels; 3-17 (3) certification of educational aides; and 3-18 (4) any matter significant to educational aides, as 3-19 determined by the task force. 3-20 (b) In developing recommendations, the task force shall 3-21 review and analyze: 3-22 (1) the use of educational aides by school districts; 3-23 (2) the programs in which educational aides 3-24 participate; and 3-25 (3) the standards and laws governing the employment 3-26 and use of educational aides. 3-27 SECTION 6. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2001, the task 4-1 force shall submit to the governor, the legislature, and the State 4-2 Board for Educator Certification a written report of the 4-3 recommendations required by Section 5 of this Act. 4-4 SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 4-5 1, 1999. 4-6 SECTION 8. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires and the Task 4-7 Force on Educational Aides is abolished September 1, 2001. 4-8 SECTION 9. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 4-9 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.