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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a charter school by the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Education Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 20 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 20. TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARTER SCHOOL |
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Sec. 20.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Juvenile Justice Board. |
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(2) "Charter school" means the charter school |
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established under this chapter. |
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(3) "Department" means the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department. |
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Sec. 20.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The board may establish a |
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charter school to educate children previously adjudicated as having |
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engaged in conduct indicating a need for supervision or delinquent |
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conduct. |
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(b) The charter school may only be established in a county |
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with a population of at least 250,000 but not more than 270,000 that |
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is located less than 100 miles from a department district office. |
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(c) The board is the governing body of the charter school |
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and shall provide for the operation of the charter school in the |
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manner the board determines appropriate. |
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Sec. 20.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The charter school is |
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subject to review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset |
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Act), and shall be reviewed during the period in which the |
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department is reviewed. |
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Sec. 20.004. GOALS. The goals of the charter school are to: |
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(1) enable students to: |
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(A) achieve high academic standards in secondary |
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education; |
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(B) participate in the workforce; |
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(C) join the military; and |
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(D) enroll in postsecondary education; |
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(2) maintain safe communities; |
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(3) reduce future adverse involvement in the criminal |
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justice system; and |
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(4) contribute to the prosperity and welfare of this |
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state. |
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Sec. 20.005. APPLICABILITY OF CODE. (a) Unless otherwise |
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specifically provided, a provision of this code applying to a |
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charter school or to the governing body of a charter school does not |
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apply to the charter school established under this chapter. |
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(b) The charter school is subject to a requirement imposed |
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by this title relating to: |
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(1) the required curriculum under Section 28.002; |
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(2) high school graduation requirements under Section |
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28.025; and |
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(3) academic and financial accountability standards |
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under Chapter 39. |
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Sec. 20.006. DUTIES. The charter school shall: |
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(1) develop an academic achievement plan for each |
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student attending the charter school that is designed to produce |
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high academic achievement and prepare the student for postsecondary |
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education or a military career; |
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(2) develop and implement a comprehensive, |
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evidence-based, individualized therapeutic counseling plan for |
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each student to facilitate academic achievement, mitigate |
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delinquent behavior, and encourage the involvement of the student's |
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parent or guardian; and |
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(3) provide vocational training programs that enable |
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students to obtain workforce credentials, including certification |
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or licensure. |
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Sec. 20.007. STAFF. (a) The charter school shall develop |
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or adopt a method to: |
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(1) attract and hire certified and highly qualified |
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teachers; and |
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(2) verify an applicant or employee's criminal history |
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record and disciplinary record, including criminal history or |
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disciplinary action relating to inappropriate conduct or |
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relationships with students or minors. |
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(b) The charter school shall employ: |
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(1) a principal who has a well-developed background in |
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academic leadership and demonstrated experience in dealing with |
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children who have entered the juvenile justice system; |
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(2) a sufficient number of: |
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(A) teachers to maintain a maximum of 15 students |
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in each class in the foundation curriculum under Section |
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28.002(a)(1); and |
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(B) social workers to maintain a ratio of not |
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less than one social worker for every three students to enable the |
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close management of students and the development of constructive |
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relationships between the social workers and students; and |
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(3) a highly qualified dietician to prepare healthy |
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meal plans for students, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. |
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Sec. 20.008. FACILITIES. The charter school must be |
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located in a facility selected by the department, in consultation |
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with a qualified architect, that is designed in a manner to |
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facilitate academic and behavioral development. |
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Sec. 20.009. FUNDING. (a) The charter school is entitled to |
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receive funding from the state in the same manner as an |
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open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.106. |
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(b) In addition to money received under Subsection (a), the |
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charter school may receive appropriated money from the department |
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to provide educational programs. |
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Sec. 20.010. GIFTS AND GRANTS. (a) The charter school may |
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accept a grant from a public or private organization and may spend |
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those funds to provide the charter school's programs and services. |
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(b) The charter school may accept federal funds and shall |
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use those funds in compliance with applicable federal law. |
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Sec. 20.011. COORDINATION. The department may coordinate |
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or partner with the juvenile probation department of the county in |
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which the charter school is located or with any other public or |
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private entity to establish the charter school or to provide the |
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charter school's programs or services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1.001(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter |
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20, Subchapter A of Chapter 29, Subchapter E of Chapter 30, or |
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Chapter 30A, this code does not apply to students, facilities, or |
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programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Aging and |
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Disability Services, the Department of State Health Services, the |
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Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a Job Corps |
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program operated by or under contract with the United States |
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Department of Labor, or any juvenile probation agency. |
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SECTION 3. Section 661.031(2), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "State employee" means an individual who is an |
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appointed officer or employee of a state agency and who normally |
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works 900 hours or more a year. The term includes: |
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(A) an hourly employee; |
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(B) a temporary employee; |
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(C) a person employed by: |
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(i) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; |
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(ii) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(iii) the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board; |
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(iv) the Texas School for the Blind and |
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Visually Impaired; |
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(v) the Texas School for the Deaf; |
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(vi) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; |
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(vii) the Windham School District; [or] |
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(viii) the Department of Assistive and |
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Rehabilitative Services; or |
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(ix) a charter school established under |
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Chapter 20, Education Code; and |
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(D) a classified, administrative, faculty, or |
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professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher |
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education who has accumulated vacation leave, sick leave, or both, |
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during the employment. |
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SECTION 4. Section 661.061(2), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "State employee" means an employee or appointed |
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officer of a state agency. The term includes: |
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(A) a full-time employee or officer; |
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(B) a part-time employee or officer; |
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(C) an hourly employee; |
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(D) a temporary employee; |
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(E) a person employed by: |
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(i) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; |
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(ii) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(iii) the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board; |
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(iv) the Texas School for the Blind and |
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Visually Impaired; |
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(v) the Texas School for the Deaf; |
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(vi) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; |
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(vii) the Windham School District; [or] |
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(viii) the Department of Assistive and |
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Rehabilitative Services; or |
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(ix) a charter school established under |
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Chapter 20, Education Code; or |
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(F) a classified, administrative, faculty, or |
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professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher |
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education who has accumulated vacation leave during the employment. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1551.319(d), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The executive head of the Windham School District or a |
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charter school established under Chapter 20, Education Code, shall |
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determine whether an educational professional employee of the |
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district or school is a full-time employee for purposes of this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |