BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 503

81R2979 ACP-F                                                                                                                 By: Eltife

                                                                                                                                            Education

                                                                                                                                            2/26/2009

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, Section 552.126, Government Code, requires school districts to disclose the name or names of finalists for the position of superintendent at least 21 days prior to the school board's final vote.  However, the law does not define who is considered a finalist for purposes of disclosure, and frequently a school district announces its intention to hire a "lone finalist," rather than announcing the list of finalists being considered.  Consequently, the process by which a superintendent is selected frequently lacks transparency and limits community input.

 

As proposed,  S.B. 503 provides that a person is a "finalist" if the board of trustees interviewed the person in the final round of interviews. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 552.126, Government Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 552.126.  EXCEPTION: NAME OF APPLICANT FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.  (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.

 

(b) Provides that for purposes of this section, a person is a finalist for the position of superintendent of a public school district if the board of trustees interviewed the person during the final round of interviews for the position.

 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to October 1, 2009.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2009.