|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to a pilot project in certain school districts exempting |
|
those districts from state requirements, restrictions, and |
|
prohibitions. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 11.004 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 11.004. DEREGULATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
|
commissioner shall establish a pilot program under which |
|
participating school districts are exempt from any requirement, |
|
restriction, or prohibition imposed by this code or rule of the |
|
State Board of Education or commissioner, except as provided by |
|
Subsection (c). |
|
(b) A school district may apply to the commissioner to |
|
participate in the pilot program. Subject to receipt of acceptable |
|
applications, the commissioner shall select for participation in |
|
the pilot program six school districts as follows: |
|
(1) two districts with small student enrollments, as |
|
defined by the commissioner; |
|
(2) two districts with mid-size student enrollments, |
|
as defined by the commissioner; and |
|
(3) two districts with large student enrollments, as |
|
defined by the commissioner. |
|
(c) A school district participating in the pilot program is |
|
not exempt from: |
|
(1) a requirement imposed by federal law or rule, |
|
including any requirement for special education or bilingual |
|
education programs; |
|
(2) a requirement, restriction, or prohibition that is |
|
necessary to meet eligibility standards for a federal entitlement, |
|
as determined by the commissioner; |
|
(3) a requirement, restriction, or prohibition |
|
relating to public school accountability as provided by Subchapters |
|
B, C, D, and G, Chapter 39; or |
|
(4) a prohibition on conduct that constitutes a |
|
criminal offense. |
|
(d) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
|
implement this section. |
|
(e) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
|
SECTION 2. 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, 2009. |