BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 800
By: Lucio
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, a school district trustee term of office may be for either three or four years.
C.S.S.B. 800 extends the terms of school board trustees to four years and implements simultaneous school board elections. This bill will provide continuity among school boards, encourage long-range planning, and reduce board election expenses.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, by adding Section 11.0591, as follows:
Sec. 11.0591. TERMS OF CERTAIN TRUSTEES; PILOT PROJECT. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a school district with a central administrative office located in Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, or Willacy County.
(b) Provides that notwithstanding Section 11.059 (Terms), a trustee of an independent school district to which this section applies serves a term of four years.
(c) Requires elections for trustees under this section to be held every four years.
(d) Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to prepare a report analyzing the benefits and problems associated with conducting trustee elections on a uniform date ever four years. Requires TEA to deliver a copy of the report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the committee in each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education, not later than January 1, 2015.
(e) Provides that this section expires April 1, 2015.
SECTION 2. (a) Provides that Section 11.0591, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies to a school district trustee election scheduled to be held on or after November 8, 2005.
(b) Requires a school district board of trustees to hold an election under Section 11.0591, Education Code, as added by this Act, on May 6, 2006, or November 7, 2006, as determined by the board.
(c) Authorizes a person to serve a term as a school district trustee that is shorter or longer than the term for which the person was elected to implement the changes made by this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.