By Tillery                                            H.B. No. 1344
         77R3819 KKA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to reports and other written information required to be
 1-3     provided by public school classroom teachers.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 21.411 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 21.411.  RESTRICTIONS ON REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a)
 1-8     Subject to this section, a school district may require a classroom
 1-9     teacher to prepare any report or provide any other written
1-10     information required by federal or state statute or rule.
1-11           (b)  A school district shall provide a classroom teacher with
1-12     access to the district's information management system as
1-13     appropriate to expedite preparation of required reports and other
1-14     written information.
1-15           (c)  A classroom teacher may not be required to:
1-16                 (1)  prepare a report or provide other written
1-17     information that duplicates information available under the
1-18     district's information management system;
1-19                 (2)  provide the same written information more than
1-20     once during a school year; or
1-21                 (3)  complete a form regarding compliance with the
1-22     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
1-23     et seq.) that is not required by the United States Department of
1-24     Education.
 2-1           (d)  Annually the agency shall evaluate the types of reports
 2-2     and other written information that classroom teachers are required
 2-3     to provide and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding
 2-4     elimination of duplicative requirements and, when practical,
 2-5     reduction of other requirements.
 2-6           SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
 2-7     school year.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-9     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-10     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-11     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-12     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.