S.B. 13 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 13
By: Zaffirini
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas lacks laws to regulate the amount of time a teacher
spends on paperwork. Some believe that restricting the amount of required
written information would  permit teachers to spend more time on teaching
students at  public schools. S.B. 13 limits the amount of paperwork that
can be required of public school classroom teachers.  


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
institution, or agency. 


ANALYSIS

S.B. 13 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees of each
school district (board) to limit redundant requests for information and
the number and length of written reports that a classroom teacher is
required to prepare. The bill prohibits a classroom teacher from being
required to  prepare any written information, other than under certain
circumstances. 

The bill requires the board to review paperwork requirements imposed on
classroom teachers and to transfer to existing noninstructional staff a
reporting task that can reasonably be accomplished by that staff. 

The bill does not preclude a school district from collecting essential
information from a classroom teacher on agreement between the classroom
teacher and the district. 

This 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.