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.