SRC-TAG H.B. 860 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 860
78R448 BDH-DBy: McReynolds (Shapiro)
Education
5/22/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law permits school districts to use non-instructional days for
planning and preparation or staff development. Site-based decision-making
committees have the authority to approve the content of staff development
instruction, but are not authorized to decide the number of
non-instructional days dedicated to staff development. These committees
are closely connected to faculty members, and possess an understanding of
whether non-instructional days should be used for planning and preparation
or staff development.  Providing the committees with the authority to
decide the number of days to devote to staff development enables schools
to develop comprehensive, high-quality instruction for staff development.
H.B.  860 provides for the site-based decision-making committee's approval
of the use of educators' non-instructional days on campuses that receive
exemplary status under Chapter 39.   

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 Section 11.253(e), Education Code, to require the
campus-level committee to approve the use of educators' days of service
for which instruction is not required, if the campus is rated exemplary
under Chapter 39. 

SECTION 2.   Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.