79R6466 BDH-F

By:  Eissler                                                      H.B. No. 1325


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the ability of public school employees to communicate with members of a school district board of trustees. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 11.163, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (d) The employment policy must: (1) permit school district employees to communicate directly with a member of the board of trustees without restriction regarding a matter relating to the operation of the district; and (2) provide that a trustee receiving a communication from a district employee may keep the identity of the employee confidential. (e) A member of the board of trustees may inquire about the substance of a communication from a district employee at a board of trustees meeting. The inquiry is subject to Section 551.042, Government Code, except that: (1) the notice provisions of Chapter 551, Government Code, do not apply to an inquiry, proposal, or decision made under this subsection; and (2) a trustee may propose, and a majority of the trustees may decide, that the substance of the inquiry be investigated and reported to the board at a subsequent meeting. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.