Amend CSHB 6 by striking all below the enacting clause and substituting the following: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 12.1161 and 12.121 to read as follows: Sec. 12.1161. DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY STATUS. (a) The commissioner may declare emergency status as to an open-enrollment charter school if the commissioner determines that conditions at the school warrant that action. The commissioner may declare emergency status based on evidence of: (1) low levels of academic achievement at the school; (2) financial improprieties at the school; (3) conditions that present a danger to the health, safety, or welfare of students at the school; or (4) other serious problems at the school. (b) If the commissioner declares emergency status as to an open-enrollment charter school, the commissioner may immediately take necessary action to correct the conditions, including: (1) replacing the governing body of the school; (2) replacing the administration of the school; (3) restructuring the school's teaching staff; or (4) closing the school. (c) An action of the commissioner under Subsection (b) is subject to ratification by the State Board of Education at the board's next meeting after the action is taken. If the board does not ratify the commissioner's action, the person operating the open-enrollment charter school may appeal the commissioner's action under Section 7.057. Pending the outcome of the appeal, the person must abide by the commissioner's action. (d) This section expires September 1, 2003. Sec. 12.121. CHARTER SCHOOL TASK FORCE. (a) The governor shall appoint a task force to study issues relating to the governance of open-enrollment charter schools. The task force must include educators and administrators employed by open-enrollment charter schools and researchers and policy analysts familiar with those schools. (b) The study must address: (1) which entity should be responsible for issuing charters for open-enrollment charter schools; (2) the process that should be used to screen and select from among the applicants for charters for open-enrollment charter schools; (3) the types and severity of problems existing with current open-enrollment charter schools and methods that could be used to avoid those problems; (4) the manner in which open-enrollment charter schools should be held accountable; (5) the best method for dealing with persons operating open-enrollment charter schools who do not meet the governance standards established for those schools; and (6) the manner in which other states deal with the governance of similar charter schools. (c) Not later than December 1, 2002, the task force shall report its findings to the governor and the legislature. This section expires January 31, 2003. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.