By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 493
	(In the Senate - Filed February 14, 2005; February 22, 2005, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Education; 
March 14, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 
Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 14, 2005, 
sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 493                                    By:  Van de Putte


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)   At least once each 
even-numbered year, the commissioner shall 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 by the agency to complete.
	SECTION 2.  Section 39.075, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
	(b-1)  The commissioner may authorize special accreditation 
investigations to be conducted in response to repeated complaints 
submitted to the agency concerning imposition of excessive 
paperwork requirements on classroom teachers.
	SECTION 3.  Subsection (b-1), Section 39.075, Education 
Code, as added 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.



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