H.B. 2167 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2167
By: Griggs
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, principals are required to serve their first year of employment
with a school district under a probationary contract. Often, when school
districts are seeking a new principal, it is because of ongoing
circumstances that have previously caused distress within the school.
During this volatile period, a prospective candidate for principal who has
experience from working at another school would be required to place their
career in jeopardy in order to take the new position. Often it takes more
than one year to remedy conditions that have caused the distress.
Understandably, most principals are reluctant to surrender a multi-year
term contract for a one year probationary contract. 


PURPOSE

House Bill 2167 permits school districts to offer a term contract to a
principal, even if  hired for the first time in that district, if the
principal has experience in another school district. The bill would result
in a significantly increased pool of applicants willing to take on the
challenges of a new school.  


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 2167 amends the Education Code to permit a school district to
employ an experienced principal, regardless of whether the person had been
previously employed in the district, under a term contract. The bill
exempts such a person from the provisions relating to the first time
employment of a person in a school district under a probationary contract. 

This Act applies beginning in 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.