By:  Dutton                                                       H.B. No. 2224



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to open-enrollment charter schools.                                  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 12.109, Education Code is amended to 
read as follows:    
	An open-enrollment charter school shall provide 
transportation to each student attending the school to the same 
extent a school district is required by law to provide 
transportation to district students.  The Fuel tax exemption shall 
be the same as for school districts.  The availability of funding 
for eligible transportation from the State of Texas shall be the 
same for open enrollment charter schools as for school districts.
	SECTION 2.  Section 12.1055, Education Code, is amended by 
adding a new Section 12.1055(c) to read as follows:
	(a)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to a 
prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as applicable, imposed 
by state law or by a rule adopted under state law, relating to 
nepotism under Chapter 573, Government Code.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if an open-enrollment 
charter school is rated academically acceptable or higher under 
Chapter 39 for at least two of the preceding three school years, 
then Chapter 573, Government Code, does not apply to that school; 
however, a member of the governing body of a charter holder or a 
member of the governing body or officer of an open-enrollment 
charter school shall comply with the requirements of Sections 
171.003-171.007, Local Government Code, with respect to a personnel 
matter concerning a person related to the member or officer within 
the degree specified by Section 573.002, Government Code, as if the 
personnel matter were a transaction with a business entity subject 
to those sections, and persons defined under Sections 
573.021-573.025, Government Code, shall not constitute a quorum of 
the governing body or any committee of the governing body.
	(c)  Under provisions of this Section, the superintendent, 
principal, vice principal or other support administrative 
personnel are not to be defined as officers of the Board of an open 
enrollment charter holder or school.