BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1291
85R29837 MK-F	By: Geren et al. (Campbell)
	Education
	5/12/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 1291 requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) and each public school district to ensure that the public school curriculum emphasizes an understanding of the principles underlying the form of government of the United States, including the study of the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers.

The committee substitute for H.B. 1291 also includes the language of S.B. 801 that was passed out of the Senate unanimously which allows SBOE to also consider whether instructional materials are suitable for the subject and grade level for which they are submitted and that they have been reviewed by academic experts.

C.S.H.B. 1291 amends current law relating to the instructional material list and supplemental instructional materials and the inclusion of American principles in those materials and the public school curriculum.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.002, Education Code, by adding Subsection (h-1), as follows:

(h-1) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) and each school district, to accomplish the primary purpose stated in Subsection (h) (relating to requiring SBOE and each school district to foster the teaching of United States and Texas history and the free enterprise system), to ensure that:

(1) the public school curriculum emphasizes an understanding of the principles underlying the United States form of government, including the study of the Founding Fathers of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers; and

(2) each historical event addressed in the public school curriculum meets a reasonable standard of historical significance, in relation to the limited amount of available instructional time.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 31.023(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that the required list of instructional materials includes certain instructional materials that meet applicable physical specifications adopted by SBOE, that contain material that is consistent with the purpose and guidelines of Sections 28.002(h) and (h-1), and that covers certain other elements.

(b) Requires that each instructional material on the list be:

(1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes no further changes to this subdivision;

(2) suitable for the subject and grade level for which the instructional material was submitted; and

(3) reviewed by academic experts in the subject and grade level for which the instructional material was submitted.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 31.035(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes SBOE to adopt supplemental instructional material under this section (Supplemental Instructional Materials) only if the instructional material meets certain criteria, including that it is suitable for the subject and grade level and is reviewed by academic experts in the subject and grade level.

SECTION 4. (a) Provides that, except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

(b) Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to Section 31.023(a), Education Code, apply to instructional materials adopted by SBOE on or after September 1, 2018.

(c) Provides that Sections 31.023(b) and 31.035(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an instructional material list or supplemental instructional material adopted on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that an instructional material list or supplemental instructional material adopted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the instructional material list or supplemental instructional material was adopted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.