BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4096

By: Beckley

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Reports indicate that many school districts do not have established policies regarding the workloads of custodial and facilities maintenance personnel, as some employees may be assigned to clean and maintain more facility square footage than is feasible or attainable in a single shift. It has been suggested that heavy workloads not only put a physical and mental strain on custodians but also create a health risk for students and other school staff. H.B. 4096 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Texas Education Agency to conduct a study regarding recommended standards for school district maintenance of facilities and custodial services, including a standard for appropriate custodial workloads to adequately maintain these facilities.

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. 4096 requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct a study regarding recommended standards for public school district maintenance of facilities and custodial services, including a standard for appropriate custodial workloads to adequately maintain a district's facilities and, not later than December 1, 2020, to submit a report to the legislature that includes the results of the study and any associated recommendations. The bill sets out the information TEA is required to consider in conducting the study. The bill requires the study to identify the maintenance and custodial staff needed to adequately meet a typical district's needs, the tasks required to be completed by maintenance and custodial staff, and any additional funding or other resources needed by districts to meet the standards recommended by the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.