BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 347
87R513 MCK-D	By: Paxton
	Business & Commerce
	3/19/2021
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is established under Section 28.004, Education Code. The purpose of the council is aimed to allow for community involvement in determining local health curriculum in public schools.

 

This bill makes a SHAC subject to the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act to provide a more transparent process when creating the health education curriculum considered by school districts.

 

As proposed, S.B. 347 amends current law relating to the inclusion of local school health advisory councils as governmental bodies for purposes of the open meetings law and the public information law.

 

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 551.001(3), Government Code, to redefine "governmental body," for purposes of Chapter 551 (Open Meetings), to include a local school health advisory council established under Section 28.004 (Local School Health Advisory Council and Health Education Instruction), Education Code. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 552.003(1), Government Code, to redefine "governmental body," for purposes of Chapter 552 (Public Information), to include a local state health advisory council established under Section 28.004, Education Code.

 

SECTION 3. (a) Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a meeting held on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that a meeting held before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

 

(b) Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a request for public information received on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that a request for public information received before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the request was received, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. �

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.