BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 403
86R3360 CAE-F	By: Thompson, Senfronia (Huffman)
	Education
	4/29/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 403 amends current law relating to training requirements for a member of the board of trustees and the superintendent of an independent school district regarding sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children.

 

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 11.159, Education Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (e), as follows:

 

(c) Creates Subdivision (1) and Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) from existing text. Requires the State Board of Education to require a trustee to complete every two years at least, rather than to complete at least:

 

(1) three hours of training on evaluating student academic performance, rather than three hours of training every two years, on evaluating student academic performance; and

 

(2) one hour of training on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children.

 

(c-1) Requires the training required by Subsection (c)(1) to be research-based and designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees under Section 11.1515 (Oversight of Academic Achievement).

 

(c-2)� Authorizes a candidate for trustee to complete the training required by Subsection (c) up to one year before the candidate is elected.

 

(e) Defines "other maltreatment" for purposes of this section (Member Training and Orientation).

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.054, Education Code, by adding Subsection (h) to require continuing education requirements for a superintendent to include at least 2-1/2 hours of training every five years on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children. Defines "other maltreatment" for purposes of this subsection.

 

SECTION 3. Provides that a superintendent subject to continuing education requirements immediately before the effective date of this Act is not required to comply with the continuing education requirements described by Section 21.054(h), Education Code, as added by this Act, for any continuing education requirements period that ends before January 1, 2021.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.