84R4312 MK-F
 
  By: Hancock S.B. No. 1012
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to local control school districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 12, Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 12. CHARTERS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES
         SECTION 2.  Section 12.001(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  This chapter shall be applied in a manner that ensures
  the fiscal and academic accountability of persons operating
  [holding charters issued] under this chapter. This chapter may not
  be applied in a manner that unduly regulates the instructional
  methods or pedagogical innovations of [charter] schools operating
  under this chapter.
         SECTION 3.  Section 12.0011, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 12.0011.  ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF OPERATION. As an
  alternative to operating in the manner generally provided by this
  title, an independent school district, a school campus, or an
  educational program may choose to operate [under a charter] in
  accordance with this chapter.
         SECTION 4.  Section 12.002, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 12.002.  CLASSES OF ALTERNATIVES [CHARTER]. The
  classes of alternatives [charter] under this chapter are:
               (1)  a local control [home-rule] school district
  [charter] as provided by Subchapter B;
               (2)  a campus or campus program charter as provided by
  Subchapter C; or
               (3)  an open-enrollment charter as provided by
  Subchapter D.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B. LOCAL CONTROL [HOME-RULE] SCHOOL DISTRICT [CHARTER]
         Sec. 12.011.  AUTHORIZATION AND STATUS. (a) In accordance
  with this subchapter, a school district may adopt a local control
  plan [home-rule school district charter] under which the district
  will operate.
         (b)  The adoption of a local control plan [home-rule school
  district charter] by a school district does not affect:
               (1)  the district's boundaries; or
               (2)  taxes or bonds of the district authorized before
  the effective date of the plan [charter].
         Sec. 12.012.  APPLICABILITY OF LAWS AND RULES TO LOCAL
  CONTROL [HOME-RULE] SCHOOL DISTRICT. (a) A local control
  [home-rule] school district is subject to federal and state laws
  and rules governing school districts, except that a local control
  [home-rule] school district is subject to:
               (1)  this code only to the extent that the
  applicability to a local control [home-rule] school district of a
  provision of this code is specifically provided;
               (2)  a rule adopted under this code by the State Board
  of Education or the commissioner only if the code provision
  authorizing the rule specifically applies to a local control
  [home-rule] school district; and
               (3)  all requirements of federal law and applicable
  court orders relating to eligibility for and the provision of
  special education and bilingual programs.
         (b)  An employee of a local control [home-rule] school
  district who qualifies for membership in the Teacher Retirement
  System of Texas shall be covered under the system in the same manner
  and to the same extent as a qualified employee employed by an
  independent school district is covered.
         (c)  This section does not permit a local control [home-rule]
  school district to discriminate against a student who has been
  diagnosed as having a learning disability, including dyslexia or
  attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Discrimination
  prohibited by this subsection includes denial of placement in a
  gifted and talented program if the student would otherwise be
  qualified for the program but for the student's learning
  disability. This section does not permit a local control
  [home-rule] school district to, on the basis of race, socioeconomic
  status, learning disability, or family support status, place a
  student in a program other than the highest-level program necessary
  to ensure the student's success.
         Sec. 12.013.  APPLICABILITY OF TITLE. (a) A local control
  [home-rule] school district has the powers and entitlements granted
  to school districts and school district boards of trustees under
  this title, including taxing authority.
         (b)  A local control [home-rule] school district is subject
  to:
               (1)  a provision of this title establishing a criminal
  offense;
               (2)  a provision of this title relating to limitations
  on liability; and
               (3)  a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as
  applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this
  title, relating to:
                     (A)  the Public Education Information Management
  System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with
  this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;
                     (B)  educator certification under Chapter 21 and
  educator rights under Sections 21.407, 21.408, and 22.001;
                     (C)  criminal history records under Subchapter C,
  Chapter 22;
                     (D)  student admissions under Section 25.001;
                     (E)  school attendance under Sections 25.085,
  25.086, and 25.087;
                     (F)  inter-district or inter-county transfers of
  students under Subchapter B, Chapter 25;
                     (G)  [elementary class size limits under Section
  25.112, in the case of any campus in the district that fails to
  satisfy any standard under Section 39.054(e);
                     [(H)]  high school graduation under Section
  28.025;
                     (H) [(I)]  special education programs under
  Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
                     (I) [(J)]  bilingual education under Subchapter
  B, Chapter 29;
                     (J) [(K)]  prekindergarten programs under
  Subchapter E, Chapter 29;
                     (K) [(L)]  safety provisions relating to the
  transportation of students under Sections 34.002, 34.003, 34.004,
  and 34.008;
                     (L) [(M)]  computation and distribution of state
  aid under Chapters 31, 42, [and] 43, and 46;
                     (M) [(N)]  extracurricular activities under
  Section 33.081;
                     (N) [(O)]  health and safety under Chapter 38;
                     (O) [(P)]  public school accountability under
  Subchapters B, C, D, E, F, and J, Chapter 39;
                     (P) [(Q)]  equalized wealth under Chapter 41;
                     (Q) [(R)]  a bond or other obligation or tax rate
  under Chapters 42, 43, and 45; and
                     (R) [(S)]  purchasing under Chapter 44.
         Sec. 12.0131.  LOCAL CONTROL SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATION
  BEGINS AFTER VOTER APPROVAL. An independent school district shall
  begin operation as a local control school district under the local
  control plan after the approval of a proposed local control plan by
  registered voters of the school district through the process
  provided by this subchapter. 
         Sec. 12.014.  SUBMISSION OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN TO VOTERS 
  [APPOINTMENT OF CHARTER COMMISSION]. A local control plan shall be
  submitted to the voters under Section 12.019 [The board of trustees
  of a school district shall appoint a charter commission to frame a
  home-rule school district charter] if:
               (1)  the board of trustees of a school district 
  receives a petition signed by at least five percent of the
  registered voters of the district, as verified under Section
  12.0151, requesting that the district adopt the local control plan
  that accompanies the petition [appointment of a charter commission
  to frame a home-rule school district charter signed by at least five
  percent of the registered voters of the district]; or
               (2)  at least two-thirds of the total membership of the
  board of trustees of a school district adopt a resolution
  requesting that the district adopt the local control plan
  considered with the resolution [ordering that a charter commission
  be appointed].
         Sec. 12.015.  PETITION TO OPERATE AS A LOCAL CONTROL SCHOOL
  DISTRICT. (a) For a petition to operate as a local control school
  district to be valid:
               (1)  the petition must include a statement worded
  substantially as follows on each page of the petition preceding the
  space reserved for signatures: "This petition is to request that an
  election be held for (name of school district) to operate under the
  local control plan available at (Internet website address).
  Technical amendments to the local control plan posted on the
  Internet may be adopted before the election on adoption of the
  plan.";
               (2)  the petition must include each signer's printed
  name and residential address, including zip code; 
               (3)  each signer must enter beside his or her signature
  the date on which he or she signed the petition; 
               (4)  the petition must designate one or more persons as
  lead petitioner;
               (5)  the proposed local control plan must be available
  online at the Internet website referenced on the petition during
  the period signatures are collected; and
               (6)  the petition, when submitted to the board of
  trustees of the school district as provided by Subsection (c), must
  include a signed statement by the lead petitioner stating that it is
  the lead petitioner's reasonable belief that the petition is signed
  by at least five percent of the registered voters of the district.
         (b)  A digital signature may be accepted if the board of
  trustees of the school district or county clerk of the county in
  which the school district's central administrative office is
  located has adopted rules under Section 2054.060, Government Code.
         (c)  When the lead petitioner believes that at least five
  percent of the registered voters of the school district have signed
  the petition, the lead petitioner shall submit the petition and
  proposed local control plan to the board of trustees of the school
  district.
         (d)  Not later than the fifth day after the date of receipt of
  the petition and local control plan, the board of trustees of the
  school district shall:
               (1)  submit a copy of the petition to the county clerk
  of the county in which the school district's central administrative
  office is located for verification of the signatures, as provided
  by Section 12.0151; and
               (2)  submit a copy of the proposed local control plan to
  the commissioner for review, as provided by Section 12.018.
         (e)  The failure of the board of trustees of the school
  district to comply with Subsection (d) does not invalidate the
  petition or the local control plan but may be a basis for equitable
  relief issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
         (f)  If the board of trustees of the school district fails to
  comply with Subsection (d), the lead petitioner may:
               (1)  submit a copy of the petition to the county clerk
  of the county in which the school district's central administrative
  office is located for verification of the signatures, as provided
  by Section 12.0151; and
               (2)  submit a copy of the proposed local control plan to
  the commissioner for review, as provided by Section 12.018. 
         (g)  The county clerk and commissioner shall consider the
  petition and local control plan received from the lead petitioner
  under Subsection (f) as if submitted in a timely manner by the board
  of trustees of the school district in accordance with Subsection
  (d). [CHARTER COMMISSION. (a) Not later than the 30th day after
  the date of receipt of a petition or adoption of a resolution under
  Section 12.014, the board of trustees of the school district shall
  appoint 15 residents of the district to serve on the commission to
  frame a charter for the district.
         [(b)     The membership of the charter commission must reflect
  the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the
  district. A majority of the members appointed to the commission
  must be parents of school-age children attending public school. At
  least 25 percent of the commission must be classroom teachers
  selected by the representatives of the professional staff pursuant
  to Section 11.251(e).
         [(c)     The charter commission must complete a proposed
  charter not later than the first anniversary of the date of its
  appointment. After that date, the commission expires and the
  appointment under Section 12.014 is void.
         [(d)     A charter commission appointed under this section is
  considered a governmental body for purposes of Chapters 551 and
  552, Government Code.]
         Sec. 12.0151.  DUTIES OF COUNTY CLERK ON RECEIPT OF
  PETITION. (a) On receipt of a petition under Section 12.015, the
  county clerk of the county in which the school district's central
  administrative office is located, in cooperation with the county
  clerk of any other county in which any part of the school district
  is located, shall verify that each signer of the petition is
  registered to vote in the school district. 
         (b)  Not later than the 30th day after receipt of the
  petition, the county clerk shall certify to the board of trustees of
  the school district and the lead petitioner the percentage of
  registered voters of the district who signed the petition. The
  county clerk's certification is a public record.
         Sec. 12.0152.  SUBMISSION OF ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES; FINAL
  CERTIFICATION BY COUNTY CLERK. (a) If the county clerk certifies
  that less than five percent of the registered voters of the school
  district signed the petition submitted to the board of trustees of
  the school district under Section 12.015, the lead petitioner may
  submit one tranche of additional signatures in support of the
  petition to the county clerk not later than the 30th day after the
  date of the clerk's certification.
         (b)  On receipt of additional signatures from the lead
  petitioner, the county clerk shall verify the additional signatures
  and, not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt of the
  additional signatures, certify to the board of trustees of the
  school district and the lead petitioner the percentage of
  registered voters of the district who signed the petition, as
  supplemented by the additional signatures. The county clerk's
  certification is a public record.
         Sec. 12.0153.  SUIT TO CONTEST VERIFICATION OF SIGNATURES.
  Any suit to contest the verification of signatures for a petition
  must be filed not later than the 30th day after the date of the
  county clerk's final certification.
         Sec. 12.016.  CONTENT. (a) Each local control plan
  [home-rule school district charter] must:
               (1)  describe the educational program to be offered;
               (2)  provide that continuation of the local control
  [home-rule] school district [charter] is contingent on:
                     (A)  acceptable student performance on assessment
  instruments adopted under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; and
                     (B)  compliance with other applicable
  accountability provisions under Chapter 39;
               (3)  specify any basis, in addition to a basis
  specified by this subchapter, on which the local control school
  district [charter] may be placed on probation or the local control
  plan may be revoked;
               (4)  describe the governing structure of the district
  and campuses;
               (5)  specify any procedure or requirement, in addition
  to those under Chapter 38, that the district will follow to ensure
  the health and safety of students and employees;
               (6)  describe the process by which the district will
  adopt an annual budget, including a description of the use of
  program-weight funds; and
               (7)  describe the manner in which an annual audit of
  financial and programmatic operations of the district is to be
  conducted, including the manner in which the district will provide
  information necessary for the district to participate in the Public
  Education Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent
  required by this subchapter[; and
               [(8)     include any other provision the charter
  commission considers necessary].
         (b)  This section does not limit the permissible content of a
  local control plan. 
         Sec. 12.017.  DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH VOTING RIGHTS
  ACT. (a) If a local control plan is proposed by the board of
  trustees of a school district, the board may [The charter
  commission shall] submit the proposed local control plan  [charter]
  to the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall determine
  whether a proposed local control plan requires preclearance under
  federal law [charter contains a change in the governance of the
  school district].
         (b)  If a local control plan is proposed by petition, the
  lead petitioner may submit the proposed local control plan to the
  secretary of state. The secretary of state shall determine whether
  a proposed local control plan requires preclearance under federal
  law.
         (c)  If the secretary of state determines that a proposed
  local control plan requires preclearance under federal law [charter
  contains a change in the governance of the school district], the
  secretary of state shall, not later than the second working day
  after the date the secretary of state makes that determination,
  [notify the board of trustees of the school district. The board
  shall] submit the proposed local control plan [change] to the
  United States Department of Justice or the United States District
  Court for the District of Columbia for preclearance under the
  Voting Rights Act (52 U.S.C. Section 10101 et seq.) [(42 U.S.C.
  Section 1973c et seq.)].
         Sec. 12.018.  TECHNICAL [LEGAL] REVIEW. (a)  Not later than
  the fifth day after the date the board of trustees of a school
  district adopts a resolution or receives a petition and local
  control plan under Section 12.014, the board [The charter
  commission] shall submit the proposed local control plan [charter]
  to the commissioner for review.
         (b)  As soon as practicable, but not later than the 30th day
  after the date the commissioner receives the proposed local control
  plan [charter], the commissioner shall review the proposed local
  control plan for compliance [charter to ensure that the proposed
  charter complies] with any applicable state and federal laws and
  shall provide written notification to the board of trustees of the
  school district and the lead petitioner, if applicable, of the
  results of the review, including any recommended technical
  amendments for compliance with state or federal law [recommend to
  the charter commission any modifications necessary].
         (c)  If the commissioner does not act within the prescribed
  time, it is presumed that the commissioner has determined that the
  proposed local control plan [charter] is in compliance with
  applicable state and federal laws [approved]. The commissioner will
  be considered to have notified the board of trustees of the school
  district of the commissioner's determination on the 30th day after
  the date the commissioner received the proposed local control plan. 
         Sec. 12.0181.  DESIGNATING PROPOSED LOCAL CONTROL PLAN AS
  FINAL. (a) If the local control plan was proposed by the board of
  trustees of a school district, the board shall, not later than the
  30th day after the date of receipt of the commissioner's
  recommendations under Section 12.018, accept or reject any
  technical amendments recommended by the commissioner and designate
  the local control plan as final.
         (b)  If the local control plan was proposed by petition, the
  lead petitioner or a majority of persons originally designated as
  lead petitioners may, not later than the 45th day after the date of
  receipt of the commissioner's recommendations under Section
  12.018, notify the board of trustees of the school district in
  writing that the lead petitioner or majority accepts or rejects any
  technical amendments recommended by the commissioner and designate
  the local control plan as final. If the board of trustees does not
  receive written notice under this subsection, the board of trustees
  shall accept all technical amendments recommended by the
  commissioner and designate the local control plan as final.
         (c)  If the commissioner does not recommend any technical
  amendments under Section 12.018, the proposed local control plan is
  considered final on receipt of the commissioner's notification. 
         Sec. 12.019.  LOCAL CONTROL PLAN [CHARTER] ELECTION. (a) The
  board of trustees of a school district shall order an election on
  the local control plan not later than the 15th day after the date
  the board receives notice from the county clerk certifying that at
  least five percent of the registered voters of the district have
  signed the petition under Section 12.0151 or 12.0152 and the local
  control plan is designated as final under Section 12.0181 [As soon
  as practicable after approval of a home-rule school district
  charter under Section 12.018, the board of trustees of the district
  shall order an election on the proposed charter].
         (b)  The proposed local control plan [charter] shall be
  submitted to the voters of the district at an election to be held on
  the first uniform election date in November of an even-numbered
  year that occurs at least 78 [45] days after the date on which the
  board of trustees orders the election.
         (c)  If the local control plan was proposed by the board of
  trustees of the school district, the ballot shall be printed to
  permit voting for or against the proposition "Whether the (name of
  school district) School District shall be governed under the local
  control plan that is proposed by the board of trustees and under
  which only certain laws and rules apply to the district." [At least
  three copies of the proposed charter must be available in the office
  of each school campus in the district and at the district's central
  administrative office between the date of the election order and
  election day. Notice of the election must include a statement of
  where and how copies may be obtained or viewed. A summary of the
  content of the proposed charter shall be attached to each copy. The
  summary also shall be made available to school district employees,
  parents, community members, and members of the media.]
         (d)  If the local control plan was proposed by petition, the
  [The] ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition "Whether the (name of school district) School District
  shall be governed under the local control plan that [home-rule
  school district charter, which] is proposed by a petition of
  (percentage of valid signatures of registered voters on the
  petition) percent of registered voters of the school district
  [charter commission appointed by the board of trustees] and under
  which only certain laws and rules apply to the district."
         (e)  If two or more local control plans are submitted to the
  voters, the board of trustees of the school district shall request
  that the county clerk include neutral ballot language to allow
  voters to distinguish between the plans.  If two or more local
  control plans are approved at the same election, the plan receiving
  the highest affirmative vote prevails.
         Sec. 12.0191.  NOTICE OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN ELECTION. (a)
  At least three copies of the proposed local control plan must be
  available in the office of each campus in the school district and at
  the district's central administrative office between the date of
  the election order and election day. Notice of the election must
  include a statement of where and how copies may be obtained or
  viewed. A summary of the content of the proposed local control plan
  shall be attached to each copy. The summary also shall be made
  available to school district employees, parents, community
  members, and members of the media.
         (b)  At the time the board of trustees of the school district
  orders an election on the proposed local control plan, the school
  district shall post on the district's Internet website a copy of the
  proposed local control plan, a summary of the content of the
  proposed plan, and a notice of the election.  These items shall
  remain posted on the school district's Internet website until the
  election is held.
         (c)  The school district and each campus in the district
  shall prominently display and maintain on the main page of the
  district's or campus's Internet website a link to the Internet
  website containing the information required under Subsection (b).
         Sec. 12.020.  LOCAL CONTROL PLAN [CHARTER] AMENDMENT. (a)  
  The governing body of a local control [home-rule] school district
  on its own motion may submit a proposed [charter] amendment to the
  local control plan that complies with this subchapter to the
  commissioner for technical [legal] review.
         (b)  The governing body shall submit a proposed [charter]
  amendment to the local control plan that complies with this
  subchapter to the commissioner for technical [legal] review if a
  petition submitted to the governing body proposing the [charter]
  amendment is signed by at least five percent of the registered
  voters of the district.  The petition must designate one or more
  persons as a lead petitioner.
         (c)  As soon as practicable, but not later than the 30th day
  after the date on which the requirements [for an election] under
  Subsection (a) or (b) are satisfied, the commissioner shall review
  the proposed amendment to ensure that the proposed amendment
  complies with any applicable state and federal laws and shall
  recommend any modifications necessary in accordance with Section
  12.018.  If the commissioner does not act within the prescribed
  time, the proposed [charter] amendment is considered to be in
  compliance with applicable state and federal laws [approved].
         (d)  The governing body or lead petitioner, as applicable,
  may accept or reject any proposed modifications and designate the
  amendment as final through the process described by Section
  12.0181.  As soon as practicable, but not later than the 15th day
  after the date an amendment is designated as final [commissioner
  review under Subsection (c)], the governing body of the district
  shall order an election on the proposed amendment.
         (e)  An election under this section shall be held on the
  first uniform election date in November of an even-numbered year 
  that occurs at least 78 [45] days after the date the election is
  ordered.
         (f)  Notice of the election must include a substantial copy
  of the proposed [charter] amendment to the local control plan.
         (g)  An [A charter] amendment to a local control plan may not
  contain more than one subject.
         (h)  The ballot shall be prepared so that a voter may approve
  or disapprove any one or more [charter] amendments to a local
  control plan without having to approve or disapprove all of the
  [charter] amendments to a local control plan.
         (i)  The governing body may not order an election on a
  proposed [charter] amendment to a local control plan earlier than
  the first anniversary of the date of any previous election to amend
  the plan [charter].
         (j)  Section 12.017 applies to a proposed [charter]
  amendment to a local control plan[, except that the governing body
  shall submit the proposed charter amendment to the secretary of
  state].
         Sec. 12.021.  ADOPTION OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN [CHARTER] OR
  [CHARTER] AMENDMENT. (a)  A [Subject to Section 12.022, a] proposed
  local control plan [home-rule school district charter] or a
  proposed [charter] amendment to a local control plan is adopted if
  approved by a majority of the registered [qualified] voters of the
  district voting at an election held for that purpose.
         (b)  A local control plan [charter] or [charter] amendment to
  a local control plan shall specify an effective date and takes
  effect according to its terms when the board of trustees or 
  governing body of the school district enters an order declaring
  that the plan [charter] or [charter] amendment is adopted.  The
  board of trustees or governing body shall enter an order not later
  than the 10th day after the date the canvass of the election returns
  is completed.
         (c)  As soon as practicable after a school district adopts a
  local control plan or amendment to a local control plan [home-rule
  school district charter or charter amendment], the board of
  trustees or governing body shall notify the commissioner of the
  outcome of the election.
         Sec. 12.022.  [MINIMUM VOTER TURNOUT REQUIRED. (a) An
  election on the adoption of a proposed home-rule school district
  charter has no effect unless at least 25 percent of the registered
  voters of the district vote in the election in which the adoption of
  the charter is on the ballot.
         [(b)     An election on the adoption of a proposed amendment to
  a home-rule school district charter has no effect unless at least 20
  percent of the registered voters of the district vote in the
  election in which the adoption of the amendment is on the ballot.
         [(c)     If the required number of voters prescribed by
  Subsection (a) or (b) do not vote in the election, the board of
  trustees shall order an election on the issue to be held on the
  first uniform election date:
               [(1)     that occurs at least 45 days after the date the
  election is ordered; and
               [(2)     on which one or more elections are to be held, the
  combination of which covers all of the territory of the school
  district.
         [(d)     If the required number of voters prescribed by
  Subsection (a) or (b) do not vote at an election ordered as required
  by Subsection (c), the board of trustees may continue to order
  elections on the issue in accordance with Subsection (c) until the
  required minimum voter turnout is achieved.
         [Sec. 12.023.]  CERTIFICATION OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN OR
  AMENDMENT [CHARTER OR CHARTER AMENDMENT].  (a)  As soon as
  practicable after a school district adopts a local control plan or
  amendment to a local control plan [home-rule school district
  charter or charter amendment], the president of the board of
  trustees or presiding officer of the governing body shall certify
  to the secretary of state a copy of the plan [charter] or amendment
  showing the approval by the voters of the district.
         (b)  The secretary of state shall file and record the
  certification in the secretary of state's office.
         Sec. 12.023 [12.024].  EFFECT OF RECORDING LOCAL CONTROL
  PLAN OR AMENDMENT [CHARTER OR CHARTER AMENDMENT].  A recorded local
  control plan or amendment to a local control plan [charter or
  charter amendment] is a public act.  A court shall take judicial
  notice of a recorded plan [charter] or [charter] amendment and
  proof is not required of its provisions.
         Sec.  12.024 [12.025].  GOVERNANCE.  (a)  A local control
  [home-rule] school district may adopt and operate under any
  governing structure.
         (b)  The district may:
               (1)  create offices;
               (2)  determine the time and method for selecting
  officers; and
               (3)  prescribe the qualifications and duties of
  officers.
         (c)  The term of any officer of the district is determined
  under Section 11.059.
         Sec. 12.025 [12.026].  CHANGE IN GOVERNING BODY. If the
  adoption, amendment, or revocation of a local control [home-rule]
  school district plan [charter] changes the structure of the
  governing body of the school district, the members of the governing
  body serving on the date the adoption, amendment, or revocation
  takes effect continue in office until their successors are chosen
  and have qualified for office.
         Sec. 12.026 [12.027].  BASIS FOR PLACEMENT ON PROBATION OR
  REVOCATION OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN [CHARTER].  (a)  The commissioner
  [State Board of Education] may place a local control school
  district on probation or revoke the local control plan [a home-rule
  school district charter] of a school district if the commissioner
  [board] determines that the district:
               (1)  committed a material violation of the local
  control plan [charter];
               (2)  failed to satisfy generally accepted accounting
  standards of fiscal management; or
               (3)  failed to comply with this subchapter or other
  applicable federal or state law or rule.
         (b)  The action the commissioner [board] takes under
  Subsection (a) shall be based on the best interest of district
  students, the severity of the violation, and any previous violation
  the district has committed.
         (c)  A district whose local control plan [home-rule school
  district charter] is revoked or rescinded under this subchapter
  shall operate under the other provisions of Title 1 and this title
  that apply to school districts.
         Sec. 12.027 [12.028].  PROCEDURE FOR PLACEMENT ON PROBATION
  OR REVOCATION.  (a)  The commissioner [State Board of Education] by
  rule shall adopt a procedure to be used for placing a local control
  school district on probation or revoking a local control plan
  [home-rule school district charter].
         (b)  The procedure adopted under Subsection (a) must provide
  an opportunity for a hearing to the district and to parents of
  district students.  A hearing under this subsection must be held in
  the district.
         Sec. 12.028 [12.029].  STATUS OF DISTRICT IN CASE OF
  ANNEXATION OR CONSOLIDATION. (a)  If a school district is annexed
  to another district under Chapter 13, and only one of the districts
  has a local control [home-rule] school district status, the
  status[, as a home-rule or other type of school district,] of the
  receiving district is the status for both districts following
  annexation.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subchapter H, Chapter 41, if two
  or more school districts having different status, one of which is
  local control [home-rule] school district status, consolidate into
  a single district, the petition under Section 13.003 initiating the
  consolidation must state the status for the consolidated district.  
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition:  "Consolidation of (names of school districts) into a
  single school district governed as (status of school district
  specified in the petition)."
         Sec. 12.029 [12.030].  RESCISSION OF LOCAL CONTROL PLAN
  [CHARTER].  (a)  A local control plan [home-rule school district
  charter] may be rescinded as provided by this section.
         (b)  The governing body of the district shall order an
  election on the question of rescinding a local control plan
  [home-rule school district charter] if:
               (1)  the governing body receives a petition requesting
  a rescission election signed by at least five percent of the
  registered voters of the district; or
               (2)  at least two-thirds of the total membership of the
  governing body adopt a resolution ordering that a rescission
  election be held.
         (c)  As soon as practicable after the date of receipt or
  adoption of a resolution under Subsection (b), the governing body
  shall order an election.
         (d)  The proposition to rescind the local control plan
  [home-rule school district charter] shall be submitted to the
  voters of the district at an election to be held on the first
  uniform election date in November of an even-numbered year that
  occurs at least 78 [45] days after the date on which the governing
  body orders the election.
         (e)  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or
  against the proposition: "Whether the local control plan [home-rule
  school district charter] of (name of school district) shall be
  rescinded so that the school district becomes an independent school
  district."
         (f)  A local control plan [home-rule school district
  charter] is rescinded if the rescission is approved by a majority of
  the registered [qualified] voters of the district voting at an
  election held for that purpose [at which at least 25 percent of the
  registered voters of the district vote].
         (g)  The rescission takes effect on a date established by
  resolution of the governing body but not later than the 90th day
  after the date of an election held under this section at which
  rescission of the local control plan [charter] is approved [and at
  which the number of registered voters required under Subsection (f)
  vote].  As soon as practicable after that election, the governing
  body shall notify the commissioner and the secretary of state of the
  results of the election and of the effective date of the rescission.
         (h)  The rescission of a local control plan [home-rule school
  district charter] under this section does not affect:
               (1)  the district's boundaries; or
               (2)  taxes or bonds of the district authorized before
  the effective date of the rescission.
         SECTION 6.  Section 12.051(2), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (2)  "Board" and "board of trustees" mean the board of
  trustees of a school district or the governing body of a local
  control [home-rule] school district.
         SECTION 7.  Section 12.052(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  In accordance with this subchapter, the board of
  trustees of a school district or the governing body of a local
  control [home-rule] school district shall grant or deny, through a
  public vote of the board of trustees or governing body, a charter to
  parents and teachers for a campus or a program on a campus if the
  board is presented with a petition signed by:
               (1)  the parents of a majority of the students at that
  school campus; and
               (2)  a majority of the classroom teachers at that
  school campus.
         SECTION 8.  Section 12.0521(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding Section 12.052, in accordance with this
  subchapter and in the manner provided by this section, the board of
  trustees of a school district or the governing body of a local
  control [home-rule] school district may grant a charter for:
               (1)  a new district campus; or
               (2)  a program that is operated:
                     (A)  by an entity that has entered into a contract
  with the district under Section 11.157 to provide educational
  services to the district through the campus or program; and
                     (B)  at a facility located in the boundaries of
  the district.
         SECTION 9.  Section 12.0522(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding Section 12.052, in the manner provided
  by this section, the board of trustees of a school district or the
  governing body of a local control [home-rule] school district may
  grant a district charter to a campus to the extent authorized under
  this section.
         SECTION 10.  Section 12.101(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  In accordance with this subchapter, the commissioner
  may grant a charter on the application of an eligible entity for an
  open-enrollment charter school to operate in a facility of a
  commercial or nonprofit entity, an eligible entity, or a school
  district, including a local control [home-rule] school district.  
  In this subsection, "eligible entity" means:
               (1)  an institution of higher education as defined
  under Section 61.003;
               (2)  a private or independent institution of higher
  education as defined under Section 61.003;
               (3)  an organization that is exempt from taxation under
  Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section
  501(c)(3)); or
               (4)  a governmental entity.
         SECTION 11.  Sections 22.003(d) and (e), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  A school district employee with available personal
  leave under this section is entitled to use the leave for
  compensation during a term of active military service.  This
  subsection applies to any personal or sick leave available under
  former law or provided by local policy of a school district,
  including a local control [home-rule] school district.
         (e)  A school district, including a local control
  [home-rule] school district, may adopt a policy providing for the
  paid leave of absence of employees taking leave for active military
  service as part of the consideration of employment by the district.
         SECTION 12.  Section 37.007(e), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  In accordance with 20 U.S.C. Section 7151, a local
  educational agency, including a school district, local control
  [home-rule] school district, or open-enrollment charter school,
  shall expel a student who brings a firearm, as defined by 18 U.S.C.
  Section 921, to school. The student must be expelled from the
  student's regular campus for a period of at least one year, except
  that:
               (1)  the superintendent or other chief administrative
  officer of the school district or of the other local educational
  agency, as defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 7801, may modify the length
  of the expulsion in the case of an individual student;
               (2)  the district or other local educational agency
  shall provide educational services to an expelled student in a
  disciplinary alternative education program as provided by Section
  37.008 if the student is younger than 10 years of age on the date of
  expulsion; and
               (3)  the district or other local educational agency may
  provide educational services to an expelled student who is 10 years
  of age or older in a disciplinary alternative education program as
  provided in Section 37.008.
         SECTION 13.  Section 37.022(a)(2), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (2)  "District or school" includes an independent
  school district, a local control [home-rule] school district, a
  campus or campus program charter holder, or an open-enrollment
  charter school.
         SECTION 14.  Section 38.152, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 38.152.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies to an
  interscholastic athletic activity, including practice and
  competition, sponsored or sanctioned by:
               (1)  a school district, including a local control
  [home-rule] school district, or a public school, including any
  school for which a charter has been granted under Chapter 12; or
               (2)  the University Interscholastic League.
         SECTION 15.  Section 38.157(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  The school district superintendent or the
  superintendent's designee or, in the case of a local control
  [home-rule] school district or open-enrollment charter school, the
  person who serves the function of superintendent or that person's
  designee shall supervise an athletic trainer or other person
  responsible for compliance with the return-to-play protocol.  The
  person who has supervisory responsibilities under this subsection
  may not be a coach of an interscholastic athletics team.
         SECTION 16.  Section 38.158(f), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  Each person described by Subsection (c) must submit
  proof of timely completion of an approved course in compliance with
  Subsection (e) to the school district superintendent or the
  superintendent's designee or, in the case of a local control
  [home-rule] school district or open-enrollment charter school, a
  person who serves the function of a superintendent or that person's
  designee.
         SECTION 17.  Section 39.102(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  If a school district does not satisfy the accreditation
  criteria under Section 39.052, the academic performance standards
  under Section 39.053 or 39.054, or any financial accountability
  standard as determined by commissioner rule, the commissioner shall
  take any of the following actions to the extent the commissioner
  determines necessary:
               (1)  issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
  of trustees;
               (2)  order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
  of the district for the purpose of notifying the public of the
  insufficient performance, the improvements in performance expected
  by the agency, and the interventions and sanctions that may be
  imposed under this section if the performance does not improve;
               (3)  order the preparation of a student achievement
  improvement plan that addresses each student achievement indicator
  under Section 39.053(c) for which the district's performance is
  insufficient, the submission of the plan to the commissioner for
  approval, and implementation of the plan;
               (4)  order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
  or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
  of trustees of the district and the superintendent shall appear and
  explain the district's low performance, lack of improvement, and
  plans for improvement;
               (5)  arrange an on-site investigation of the district;
               (6)  appoint an agency monitor to participate in and
  report to the agency on the activities of the board of trustees or
  the superintendent;
               (7)  appoint a conservator to oversee the operations of
  the district;
               (8)  appoint a management team to direct the operations
  of the district in areas of insufficient performance or require the
  district to obtain certain services under a contract with another
  person;
               (9)  if a district has a current accreditation status
  of accredited-warned or accredited-probation, fails to satisfy any
  standard under Section 39.054(e), or fails to satisfy financial
  accountability standards as determined by commissioner rule,
  appoint a board of managers to exercise the powers and duties of the
  board of trustees;
               (10)  if for two consecutive school years, including
  the current school year, a district has received an accreditation
  status of accredited-warned or accredited-probation, has failed to
  satisfy any standard under Section 39.054(e), or has failed to
  satisfy financial accountability standards as determined by
  commissioner rule, revoke the district's accreditation and:
                     (A)  order closure of the district and annex the
  district to one or more adjoining districts under Section 13.054;
  or
                     (B)  in the case of a local control [home-rule]
  school district or open-enrollment charter school, order closure of
  all programs operated under the district's local control plan or
  school's charter; or
               (11)  if a district has failed to satisfy any standard
  under Section 39.054(e) due to the district's dropout rates, impose
  sanctions designed to improve high school completion rates,
  including:
                     (A)  ordering the development of a dropout
  prevention plan for approval by the commissioner;
                     (B)  restructuring the district or appropriate
  school campuses to improve identification of and service to
  students who are at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by
  Section 29.081;
                     (C)  ordering lower student-to-counselor ratios
  on school campuses with high dropout rates; and
                     (D)  ordering the use of any other intervention
  strategy effective in reducing dropout rates, including mentor
  programs and flexible class scheduling.
         SECTION 18.  Section 42.152(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  Funds allocated under this section shall be used to fund
  supplemental programs and services designed to eliminate any
  disparity in performance on assessment instruments administered
  under Subchapter B, Chapter 39, or disparity in the rates of high
  school completion between students at risk of dropping out of
  school, as defined by Section 29.081, and all other students.  
  Specifically, the funds, other than an indirect cost allotment
  established under State Board of Education rule, which may not
  exceed 45 percent, may be used to meet the costs of providing a
  compensatory, intensive, or accelerated instruction program under
  Section 29.081 or a disciplinary alternative education program
  established under Section 37.008, to pay the costs associated with
  placing students in a juvenile justice alternative education
  program established under Section 37.011, or to support a program
  eligible under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
  Act of 1965, as provided by Pub. L. No. 103-382 and its subsequent
  amendments, and by federal regulations implementing that Act, at a
  campus at which at least 40 percent of the students are
  educationally disadvantaged.  In meeting the costs of providing a
  compensatory, intensive, or accelerated instruction program under
  Section 29.081, a district's compensatory education allotment
  shall be used for costs supplementary to the regular education
  program, such as costs for program and student evaluation,
  instructional materials and equipment and other supplies required
  for quality instruction, supplemental staff expenses, salary for
  teachers of at-risk students, smaller class size, and
  individualized instruction.  A local control [home-rule] school
  district or an open-enrollment charter school must use funds
  allocated under Subsection (a) for a purpose authorized in this
  subsection but is not otherwise subject to Subchapter C, Chapter
  29.  For purposes of this subsection, a program specifically
  designed to serve students at risk of dropping out of school, as
  defined by Section 29.081, is considered to be a program
  supplemental to the regular education program, and a district may
  use its compensatory education allotment for such a program.
         SECTION 19.  Section 7.102(c)(8), Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 20.  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.