SRC-CTC S.B. 1011 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1011 77R6923 QS-FBy: Lucio Education 3/13/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, faculty members in public institutions of higher learning do not have an official way to take a personal leave day. Many faculty members, due to their nine month contracts, do not accrue vacation time. Recently, the state government and public institutions of higher learning have demanded greater accountability from faculty members, removing the flexibility in their works schedules that allowed many faculty members to deal with personal situations many people use their personal leave days for. As proposed, S.B. 1011 requires each institution of higher learning to adopt a minimum personal leave program for faculty members. 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 51Z, Education Code, by adding Subsection 51.961, as follows: Sec. 51.961. MINIMUM PERSONAL LEAVE PROGRAM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY. Defines "faculty member" and "institution of higher education." Requires each institution of higher education to adopt a minimum personal leave program consisting of five days of personal leave each academic year for faculty members. Authorizes an institution of higher education to provide additional personal leave to faculty members under this section. Authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education to adopt a policy regulating a faculty member's use of personal leave granted under this section, provided that the policy does not restrict the purposes for which the leave may be used. Prohibits a faculty member from carrying forward from one academic year to the next any unused accumulated personal leave granted under this section. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2001-2002 academic year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.