H.B. 860 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 860 By: McReynolds Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND 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. House Bill 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 It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 860 amends the Education Code to provide that each exemplary school's campus-level planning and decision-making committee approve the use of educators' days of service for which instruction is not required. The Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.