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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate training |
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provided to members of a school district board of trustees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 11.1591 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.1591. TASK FORCE ON MEMBER TRAINING. (a) A task |
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force is established under this section to evaluate training |
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provided to members of a school district board of trustees and the |
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effect of that training on developing effective board of trustees |
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leadership. |
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(b) The task force shall be composed of members appointed by |
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the commissioner. In making appointments, the commissioner shall |
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ensure that the task force includes board members, superintendents, |
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representatives of regional education service centers involved in |
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providing training to board members, a representative of the State |
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Board of Education, a representative of the agency, and members of |
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the general public. |
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(c) A representative of the agency designated by the |
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commissioner shall serve as the presiding officer of the task |
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force. |
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(d) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the task |
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force not later than December 1, 2015. |
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(e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of |
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the task force on or before January 1, 2016. The task force shall |
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meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines |
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are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to |
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fulfill the task force's duties under this section. |
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(f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force. |
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(g) The task force shall evaluate whether training |
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currently provided to board members: |
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(1) enables board members to effectively make |
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decisions about school district budgets and other local school |
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financial matters; |
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(2) clearly delineates board member roles in guiding |
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educational policy and promoting student achievement without |
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engaging in daily administrative and financial details; |
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(3) provides tools for board members, |
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superintendents, schools, and the community to create successful |
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district-wide initiatives and achieve active parental engagement; |
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and |
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(4) prepares board members to establish a climate of |
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cooperation between the board members and superintendent that |
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promotes a caring environment for students while maintaining high |
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expectations. |
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(h) The task force shall prepare a report that includes: |
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(1) a description of the activities of the task force; |
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(2) the findings and recommendations of the task |
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force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and |
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(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the |
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task force considers appropriate. |
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(i) Not later than September 1, 2017, the task force shall |
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deliver the report required by Subsection (h) to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the chair of the State Board of Education. |
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(j) The task force is abolished and this section expires |
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December 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |