BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 436

By: Rodríguez

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties see a need for increased transparency with regard to the special education continuing advisory committee. S.B. 436 seeks to make that increase by providing for certain public participation in the committee's operation.

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

S.B. 436 amends the Education Code to require meetings of the special education continuing advisory committee to be conducted in compliance with state open meetings law and to require the committee to provide a procedure for members of the public to speak at committee meetings, which may not require a member of the public to register to speak earlier than the day of the meeting. The bill requires the committee to develop a policy to encourage public participation with the committee and requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to post on the TEA website contact information for the committee, notice and meetings of each open meeting of the committee, and guidance concerning how to submit public comments to the committee. The bill requires the committee, not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, to submit a report to the legislature with recommended changes to state law and TEA rules relating to special education and to include in the report the committee's current policy on encouraging public participation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.