79R5262 PAM-F

By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 493


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reducing paperwork required of school districts and school district employees. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 7.060 to read as follows: Sec. 7.060. REDUCING PAPERWORK. (a) The commissioner shall annually review and, to the greatest extent practicable, reduce written reports and other paperwork required of a school district by the agency. (b) The commissioner shall adopt a policy that limits written reports and other paperwork that a principal or classroom teacher may be required to complete. SECTION 2. Section 39.075(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The commissioner shall authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted: (1) when excessive numbers of absences of students eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are determined; (2) when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions from the required state assessment are determined; (3) in response to complaints submitted to the agency with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order; (4) in response to established compliance reviews of the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal program requirements; (5) when extraordinary numbers of student placements in alternative education programs, other than placements under Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined; (6) in response to an allegation involving a conflict between members of the board of trustees or between the board and the district administration if it appears that the conflict involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the administration clearly defined by this code; (7) when excessive numbers of students in special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, are assessed through assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section 39.023(b); [or] (8) in response to repeated complaints submitted to the agency concerning imposition of excessive paperwork requirements on classroom teachers; or (9) as the commissioner otherwise determines necessary. SECTION 3. Section 39.075(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. SECTION 4. 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.