86R19306 CAE-D
 
  By: Davis of Harris, Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 769
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 769:
 
  By:  Bell of Kaufman C.S.H.B. No. 769
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the termination of the contract of a superintendent of a
  school district based on malfeasance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 11.2011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.2011.  MALFEASANCE BY SUPERINTENDENT. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Malfeasance" means an act that is an element of a
  criminal offense under state or federal law, is unethical, or
  constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty.
               (2)  "Severance payment" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 11.201.
         (b)  If a superintendent is terminated by the board of
  trustees of the school district based on malfeasance, resigns from
  the position of superintendent to avoid being terminated based on
  malfeasance, or is terminated or resigns in lieu of termination
  while under investigation for malfeasance, the board of trustees
  must receive approval from the commissioner for any severance
  payment to the superintendent. The board of trustees must include
  in a request for approval of a severance payment:
               (1)  the school district fund from which the severance
  payment would be paid, provided that Foundation School Program
  funds received from the state may not be used; and
               (2)  the manner in which the funds would be used if the
  district did not make the severance payment.
         (c)  The commissioner may not approve a severance payment to
  a superintendent under Subsection (b) if less than 51 percent of the
  superintendent's contract is completed.
         (d)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
  administer this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.