BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 123

By: Rodríguez

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the commissioner of education lacks the authority to respond adequately to a complaint submitted to the Texas Education Agency alleging a manipulation of student data that is reported and used under the public school accountability system for purposes of performance ratings and accreditation. S.B. 123 seeks to provide the necessary authority for an appropriate response to such allegations.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 123 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education to authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted in response to a complaint submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) with respect to alleged inaccurate data that is reported through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) or through other reports required by state or federal law or rule or court order and that is used by TEA to make a determination relating to public school accountability, including accreditation. The bill authorizes the commissioner to issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a relevant witness or the production of relevant evidence located in Texas during such an investigation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.