SRC-MWN H.B. 106 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 106
By: Gutierrez (Zafferini)
Education
5/3/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the 74th Legislature reenacted and revised part of the Education
Code, and in the process, the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that limited
the amount of paperwork required of teachers was repealed. As a result, the
power of the State Board of Education to adopt rules regarding PRA was
eliminated, and the amount of paperwork required by teachers is no longer
regulated by statute. H.B.106 limits the amount of paperwork that can be
required of a public school classroom teacher.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 21I, Education Code, by adding Section 21.411,
to read as follows: 

Sec. 21.411.  RESTRICTING WRITTEN REPORTS.  (a)  Requires the board of
trustees of each school district to adopt a policy to limit redundant
requests for information and the number and length of written reports that
a classroom teacher is required to prepare.  Prohibits a classroom teacher,
except as provided by Subsection (b), from being  required to prepare a
written report other than certain reports. 

(b)  Provides that a teacher may be required to provide in information, if
the information is required under federal or state law, regulation, or rule
and the only reasonable manner in which to collect the information is with
the direct involvement of a classroom teacher.  

(c)  Requires the board of trustees to review paperwork requirements
imposed on classroom teachers and to transfer to existing noninstructional
staff a reporting task that can reasonably be accomplished by that staff. 
 
(d)  Provides that this section does not preclude a school district from
collecting essential information, in addition to information specified
under Subsection (a) or (b), from a classroom teacher if certain conditions
are met. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: Provides that this Act takes effect immediately
and applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.