BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.H.B. 2012

83R30248 E

By: Villarreal (Patrick)

 

Education

 

5/17/2013

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

C.S.H.B. 2012 amends current law relating to collection, distribution, and use of information relating to salaries of and job openings for certain professional employees of school districts and to teaching and learning conditions in public schools.

 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, by adding Section 7.038, as follows:

 

Sec. 7.038.  POSTING TEACHER POSITIONS ON AGENCY WEBSITE; PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE SALARY INFORMATION.  (a)  Authorizes a school district to submit for posting on the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Internet website notices of openings for positions for classroom teachers and notices of teacher shortages.

 

(b) Requires TEA to post on TEA's Internet website open positions for classroom teachers, including relevant salary information, submitted by school districts under Subsection (a).  Requires that TEA's website allow a classroom teacher to access a clearinghouse of information relevant to open positions for classroom teachers in districts, including the salary information described by Subsection (d) and information relating to district or regional shortages of teachers.

 

(c) Requires TEA in collaboration with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, using only available funds and resources from public or private sources, to collect information from school districts regarding salaries paid to employees entitled to the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402 (Minimum Salary Schedule for Certain Professional Staff).

 

(d) Requires TEA to provide for public use of the information collected under Subsection (c) in summary form on TEA's Internet website in a manner that indicates, by school district, the average salaries of employees to whom Subsection (c) applies by position and for classroom teachers, also by subject and grade level.

 

(e) Requires TEA to use the data collected under Subsection (c) regarding salaries paid to classroom teachers to conduct a cost-of-living salary comparability analysis in each region of the state to determine how classroom teacher salaries compare to salaries in similar professions.  Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to delineate the geographic boundaries of the regions of the state and designate the professions that constitute similar professions for purposes of conducting the salary comparability analysis under this subsection.  Requires TEA, not later than December 1, 2014, to prepare and deliver a report of the salary comparability analysis conducted under this subsection to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public education.  Requires TEA to post a copy of the report on its Internet website.

 

(f) Requires TEA to conduct the cost-of-living salary comparability analysis under this section using only available funds and resources from public or private sources.

 

(g) Provides that Subsections (e) and (f) and this subsection expire September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, by adding Section 7.064, as follows:

 

Sec. 7.064.  TEACHING AND LEARNING CONDITIONS SURVEY.  (a) Requires the commissioner to develop an online survey to be administered statewide at least biennially to superintendents, principals, supervisors, classroom teachers, counselors, and other appropriate full-time professional employees who are required to hold a certificate issued under Subchapter B (Certification of Educators), Chapter 21 (Educators).

 

(b) Requires the commissioner, in developing the survey under this section, to ensure that the survey is designed to elicit information relating to certain issues regarding teaching and learning conditions, resources, supports, and needs.

 

(c) Requires the commissioner to contract with a third-party entity with appropriate research and evaluation expertise to administer the survey required by this section.  Requires the third-party survey administrator to collect responses and protect the identity of the respondents.  Requires the third-party survey administrator to provide the survey responses to the commissioner or a person designated by the commissioner not later than the 60th day after the date the survey is administered.

 

(d) Requires the commissioner, after the administration of each survey, to make the survey results available to the public and provide the survey results to school districts and campuses.

 

(e) Requires each school district and campus to use the survey results to review and revise, as appropriate, district-level or campus-level improvement plans in the manner provided under Subchapter F (District-level and Site-based Decision-making), Chapter 11 (School Districts), and for other purposes, as appropriate to enhance the district and campus learning environment.

 

(f) Requires the commissioner to use the survey results to develop, review, and revise TEA professional development offerings, TEA initiatives aimed at teacher retention, and standards for principals and superintendents.

 

(g) Requires the commissioner to carry out duties under this section, including contacting for the administration of the survey, using only available funds and resources from public and private sources.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2013.