BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1706

By: VanDeaver

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Over the last decade, interested parties note, the legislature has directed the Texas Education Agency to reduce the number and type of written reports and other paperwork it requires of school districts. Despite this effort, the parties continue, there are both federal and state compliance, monitoring, and accountability systems relating to special education that districts must manage, along with the attendant paperwork. The parties suggest that managing and responding to multiple monitoring systems, many of which monitor the same requirements, diverts resources from students with disabilities to administrative functions and that the various due dates unique to each system leave district leaders confused, parents dissatisfied, and students' folder contents receiving more attention than student achievement growth. H.B. 1706 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1706 amends the Education Code to require the review conducted by the commissioner of education of written reports and other paperwork required of a school district by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to include a comparison of the reports and paperwork required by state law and the reports and paperwork required by federal law. The bill requires the commissioner to eliminate any reports or paperwork required by state law that duplicate the content of reports or paperwork also required by federal law. The bill includes among the duties of a school district superintendent ensuring that a copy of any report required by federal law, rule, or regulation is delivered to TEA.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.