SRC-MSY S.B. 548 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 548
78R4674 SLO-FBy: Zaffirini
Education
3/4/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

When the current law requiring a memorandum of understanding between the
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (school) and the Texas
Education Agency (TEA) was adopted in 1997, certain language regarding
accreditation of the school by the TEA was inadvertently omitted.  The
same language was included in a corresponding bill for the Texas School
for the Deaf.  As proposed, S.B. 548 adds the requirement that the school
and TEA establish procedures for assigning accreditation status to the
school in a memorandum of understanding. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the commissioner of education
is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 30.005, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 30.005, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(5) to require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas School for
the Blind and Visually Impaired (school) to establish, in a memorandum of
understanding between TEA and the school adopted by rule of the
commissioner of education, a process for TEA to assign accreditation
status to the school, to reevaluate that status on an annual basis, and to
make on-site accreditation investigations.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Requires TEA and the school to develop, agree to, and adopt by
rule a memorandum of understanding concerning the issues specified in
Section 30.005(5), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
September 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.