SRC-EPT S.B. 1126 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1126
78R8735 TBy: Van de Putte
Education
4/1/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently Texas suffers from a teacher shortage.  Research indicates that
the problem stems less from a lack of certified teachers and more from a
failure to retain teachers who enter the profession.  One of the reasons
cited by teachers leaving the profession is a lack of administrative
support.  Many teachers indicate that their administrators have hampered
them when it comes to accommodation of their personal needs. 
As proposed, S.B. 1126 amends the Education Code relating to
accommodations of personal needs of teachers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 22A, Education Code, by adding Section 22.0035,
as follows: 
 
Sec. 22.0035.  ACCOMMODATION OF PERSONAL NEEDS.  Requires a teacher's
professional work environment to include reasonable authority to visit
restroom facilities as needed, have access to a personal telephone or
district-provided telephone in the classroom if available, and exercise
reasonable discretion in accommodating personal needs such as having a
beverage available while instructing and determining how to arrange the
classroom and deliver instruction. 
 
SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.