83R4865 CAS-D

By: Carter H.B. No. 1666

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a task force on school district administrative efficiency.

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

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

SUBCHAPTER K. TASK FORCE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE

EFFICIENCY

Sec. 11.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" means the task force on school district administrative efficiency established under this subchapter.

Sec. 11.502. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; PURPOSE. A task force on school district administrative efficiency shall be established to review and analyze agency data collected from school districts on the costs of district administrative services and to determine how school district administration may be made more efficient through administrative reorganization and consolidation.

Sec. 11.503. COMPOSITION; VACANCY; APPOINTMENT. (a) The task force shall be composed of nine members as follows:

(1) four members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) a parent of a public school student in this state;

(B) a business person with professional experience relating to reorganization and modernization of a private or public organization;

(C) a retired superintendent of a school district in this state with an enrollment of at least 100,000 students; and

(D) a retired superintendent of a school district in this state with an enrollment of not more than 25,000 students;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor as follows:

(A) a retired principal of a public school in this state or a retired superintendent of a school district in this state;

(B) a person with not less than 10 years of classroom teaching experience in a school district that, during the preceding school year, had a wealth per student, as defined by Section 41.001, that was in the highest 25 percent among school districts in this state; and

(C) a person with not less than 10 years of classroom teaching experience in a school district that, during the preceding school year, had a wealth per student, as defined by Section 41.001, that was in the lowest 25 percent among school districts in this state; and

(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives as follows:

(A) a person employed by or otherwise associated with an institution of higher education in this state who has an academic degree or other background in economics, finance, accounting, or business; and

(B) a person with professional experience relating to reorganization and modernization of a private or public organization or a retired superintendent of a school district in this state.

(b) Initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later than October 1, 2013.

(c) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.

Sec. 11.504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE. (a) While serving on the task force, an individual may not:

(1) hold any public office or be a member of another state board, commission, committee, or task force; or

(2) be an employee of any state department, agency, institution, board, commission, committee, or task force.

(b) An individual may not be a member of the task force or act as the general counsel to the task force if the individual or the individual's spouse is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the individual's activities for compensation on behalf of a profession or entity related to the operation of the task force.

Sec. 11.505. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE; CONTRACTS. (a) The task force shall perform a thorough review of all school district administrative functions, including responsibilities of district administrators, and expenditures by districts, in order to:

(1) identify the causes of administrative inefficiencies;

(2) identify duplicative assignments, rules, policies, or procedures that may be consolidated; and

(3) consider and develop solutions and methods to correct and improve any duplicative or inefficient administrative practice.

(b) The agency, the house of representatives, and the senate shall provide staff support for the task force.

(c) The task force may enter into a contract for research or professional services as may be necessary or appropriate to facilitate activities of the task force.

Sec. 11.506. MEETINGS. (a) The first meeting of the task force shall be held not later than November 1, 2013, at the call of the governor. At that meeting, the members of the task force shall elect a presiding officer from among the members.

(b) After the first meeting of the task force, regular meetings shall be held quarterly, and other meetings, hearings, or proceedings may be held at any other time at the call of the presiding officer as necessary to accomplish the goals of the task force.

(c) A member of the task force who does not attend more than 50 percent of the regularly scheduled meetings is subject to removal from the task force unless attendance at a lower percentage of meetings is approved by a majority vote of the task force.

Sec. 11.507. REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member of the task force may not receive compensation for the services provided as a member of the task force.

(b) A member of the task force is entitled to reimbursement for the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force duties. Such reimbursement to task force members may be authorized by the task force to be paid from funds received and administered by the task force from gifts, grants, and donations accepted under Section 11.508.

Sec. 11.508. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) For the purpose of funding any activity of the task force under this subchapter, the task force may apply for and accept:

(1) gifts, grants, and donations from:

(A) an organization exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4), Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or

(B) a private individual or entity; or

(2) federal grant money.

(b) The task force may authorize and disburse subgrants of money from money accepted under Subsection (a) for appropriate programs, services, and activities related to and in accordance with the purposes and activities of the task force.

(c) A gift, grant, or donation to the task force shall be reported in the meeting minutes of the task force with the name of the grantor or donor and a statement of the purpose of the gift, grant, or donation accepted.

Sec. 11.509. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. The task force is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.

Sec. 11.510. REPORT; SUBMISSION. (a) The task force shall compile a final detailed report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation and rule or policy changes necessary or appropriate to implement procedures and programs to prevent the causes and occurrence of future administrative inefficiencies. The report must also include copies of all meeting minutes.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2014, the task force shall submit the report described by Subsection (a) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education or state fiscal appropriations.

Sec. 11.511. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January 1, 2015.

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, 2013.