82R2927 VOO-D

By: Dutton H.B. No. 516

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the closure of a school campus by the board of trustees of certain school districts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 11.172 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.172. CAMPUS CLOSURE. (a) This section applies only to a school district with an enrollment of more than 155,000 students.

(b) Before ordering the closure of a school campus, the board of trustees of a school district shall hold a public hearing at which residents of the district may comment on the proposed closure.

(c) Not later than the 14th day before the date of the hearing, the board must:

(1) provide written notice of the hearing to the parent of or person standing in parental relation to each student affected by the closure; and

(2) publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the district.

(d) The notice of the hearing required by Subsection (c) must include:

(1) the subject matter of the hearing, including the reason for the proposed closure; and

(2) the location, date, and time of the hearing.

(e) Following a hearing under Subsection (b), the board shall vote on the proposed closure. If the board votes to close a school campus, the board shall send a request for approval of the vote to the commissioner.

(f) The board may not order the closure of a school campus before approval of the board's request. The commissioner shall approve or deny the board's request for approval under Subsection (e) not later than the 30th day after the date the commissioner receives the request. If the commissioner fails to act within the time prescribed by this subsection, the request is considered approved.

(g) The board may not order the closure of a school campus for which a campus intervention team has been assigned under Section 39.106(a) until:

(1) the campus intervention team has:

(A) completed any required needs assessment under Section 39.106(a);

(B) made recommendations as provided by Section 39.106(c); and

(C) assisted in the development of a targeted improvement plan for student achievement as required under Section 39.106(a)(3);

(2) the campus has received any financial or other assistance determined necessary for implementation of the targeted improvement plan by the needs assessment; and

(3) the campus has two complete school years during which to implement the targeted improvement plan.

(h) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.