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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the receipt of an exemption or waiver for a school  | 
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district or campus that is academically unacceptable. | 
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       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:  | 
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       SECTION 1.  Sections 7.056(a), (e), and (f), Education  Code,  | 
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are amended to read as follows: | 
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       (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (e) or (f), a school  | 
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campus or district may apply to the commissioner for a waiver of a  | 
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requirement, restriction, or prohibition imposed by this code or  | 
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rule of the board or commissioner. | 
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       (e)  A [Except as provided by Subsection (f), a] school  | 
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campus or district may not receive an exemption or waiver under this  | 
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section from: | 
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             (1)  a prohibition on conduct that constitutes a  | 
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criminal offense; | 
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             (2)  a requirement imposed by federal law or rule,  | 
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including a requirement for special education or bilingual  | 
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education programs;  or | 
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             (3)  a requirement, restriction, or prohibition  | 
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relating to: | 
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                   (A)  essential knowledge or skills under Section  | 
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28.002 or minimum graduation requirements under Section 28.025; | 
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                   (B)  public school accountability as provided by  | 
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Subchapters B, C, D, and G, Chapter 39; | 
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                   (C)  extracurricular activities under Section  | 
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33.081 or participation in a University Interscholastic League  | 
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area, regional, or state competition under Section 33.0812; | 
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                   (D)  health and safety under Chapter 38; | 
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                   (E)  purchasing under Subchapter B, Chapter 44; | 
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                   (F)  elementary school class size limits, except  | 
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as provided by Section 25.112; | 
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                   (G)  removal of a disruptive student from the  | 
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classroom under Subchapter A, Chapter 37; | 
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                   (H)  at-risk programs under Subchapter C, Chapter  | 
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29; | 
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                   (I)  prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E,  | 
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Chapter 29; | 
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                   (J)  educator rights and benefits under  | 
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Subchapters A, C, D, E, F, G, and I, Chapter 21, or under Subchapter  | 
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A, Chapter 22; | 
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                   (K)  special education programs under Subchapter  | 
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A, Chapter 29; | 
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                   (L)  bilingual education programs under  | 
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Subchapter B, Chapter 29;  or | 
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                   (M)  the requirements for the first day of  | 
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instruction under Section 25.0811. | 
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       (f)  A school district or campus that is academically  | 
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unacceptable as provided by Section 39.072 or 39.132 [is required 
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to develop and implement a student achievement improvement plan 
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under Section 39.131 or 39.132] may not receive an exemption or  | 
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waiver under this section from any law or rule [other than:
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             [(1)  a prohibition on conduct that constitutes a 
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criminal offense;
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             [(2)a requirement imposed by federal law or rule;
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             [(3)  a requirement, restriction, or prohibition 
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imposed by state law or rule relating to:
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                   [(A)  public school accountability as provided by 
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Subchapters B, C, D, and G, Chapter 39;   or
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                   [(B)  educator rights and benefits under 
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Subchapters A, C, D, E, F, G, and I, Chapter 21, or under Subchapter 
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A, Chapter 22;  or
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             [(4)textbook selection under Chapter 31]. | 
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       SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008  | 
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school year. | 
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       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |