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