Amend SB 135 (Senate committee printing) in SECTION 1 of the bill by striking added Subsection (f), Section 11.163, Education Code (page 1, lines 13-26), and substituting the following: (f) The employment policy may not restrict the ability of a school district employee to communicate directly with a member of the board of trustees regarding a matter relating to the operation of the district, except that the policy may prohibit ex parte communication relating to: (1) a hearing under Subchapter E or F, Chapter 21; and (2) another appeal or hearing in which ex parte communication would be inappropriate pending a final decision by a school district board of trustees.