BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3263

By: Allen

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas whistleblower law protects almost every state or local public employee in Texas who in good faith reports a violation of law by a governmental entity or its employee. If the governmental entity retaliates with an adverse employment action, the employee can sue. However, the whistleblower law does not apply to charter schools, according to a recent Texas Supreme Court opinion. H.B. 3263 seeks to extend such protection to charter school employees.

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

H.B. 3263 amends the Government Code to include an open-enrollment charter school in the definition of "local governmental entity" for purposes of statutory provisions relating to the protection of public employees who report certain violations of law. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.