S.B. 688 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 688 By: West Public Education Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, general laws govern and regulate a board of trustees of an independent school district. Additionally, there are special laws that govern the Dallas Independent School District's board of trustees. It has come to the attention of the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees that some of the special laws are in conflict with the general laws, and leave open to interpretation the appropriate laws that apply to certain boards of trustees, specifically regarding trustees' residency requirements, trustees' election requirements upon redistricting, and terms trustees may serve. S.B. 688 provides which laws apply to certain school districts and authorizes certain school districts to adopt rules to govern requirements regarding their board members. 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. 688 amends the Education Code to provide that Sections 11.052 (g) and (h) (Single-member Trustee Districts) and Sections 11.059(a) and (b) (Terms) do not apply to the board of trustees of a school district if the district's central administration office is in a county with a population of more than two million and its student enrollment is more than 125,000 and less than 200,000. The bill provides that Section 11.053, Education Code (Option to Continue in Office Following Adoption of Single-Member Plan or Redistricting) and Section 141.001 (Eligibility Requirements for Public Office), Election Code, apply to the board of trustees of a school district described by Subsection (a). The bill prohibits a trustee of a school district described by Subsection (a) from serving a term that exceeds four years. The bill authorizes the board of trustees of a school district described by Subsection (a) to adopt rules to govern certain requirements regarding board members, to the extent consistent with this section, notwithstanding Article 2783d, V.T.C.S. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 specifies that a school district described by Subsection (a) may adopt rules, that may be adopted under general law by any other school districts, to govern certain requirements regarding board members.