H.B. No. 1170
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the applicability to open-enrollment charter schools of
  certain laws regarding local governments and political
  subdivisions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 12.1058 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.1058.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. (a) An
  open-enrollment charter school is considered to be:
               (1)  a local government for purposes of Chapter 791,
  Government Code;
               (2)  a local government for purposes of Chapter 2259,
  Government Code, except that an open-enrollment charter school may
  not issue public securities as provided by Section 2259.031(b),
  Government Code;
               (3)  a political subdivision for purposes of Chapter
  172, Local Government Code; and
               (4)  a local governmental entity for purposes of
  Subchapter I, Chapter 271, Local Government Code.
         (b)  An open-enrollment charter school may elect to extend
  workers' compensation benefits to employees of the school through
  any method available to a political subdivision under Chapter 504,
  Labor Code. An open-enrollment charter school that elects to
  extend workers' compensation benefits as permitted under this
  subsection is considered to be a political subdivision for all
  purposes under Chapter 504, Labor Code. An open-enrollment charter
  school that self-insures either individually or collectively under
  Chapter 504, Labor Code, is considered to be an insurance carrier
  for purposes of Subtitle A, Title 5, Labor Code.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), an
  open-enrollment charter school operated by a tax exempt entity as
  described by Section 12.101(a)(3) is not considered to be a
  political subdivision, local government, or local governmental
  entity unless the applicable statute specifically states that the
  statute applies to an open-enrollment charter school.
         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, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1170 was passed by the House on May 8,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1170 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 2,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1170 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor