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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Virtual |
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Education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. TEXAS COMMISSION ON VIRTUAL EDUCATION |
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Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. |
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Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON VIRTUAL EDUCATION. (a) |
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The commission is established to develop and make recommendations |
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regarding the delivery of virtual education in the public school |
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system and state funding for virtual education under the Foundation |
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School Program. |
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(b) The commission consists of 13 members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) four members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; and |
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(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as |
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designated by the chair of that board. |
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(c) The members appointed by the governor must have an |
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interest in public education and include at least: |
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(1) one current or retired classroom teacher with at |
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least 10 years of teaching experience; |
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(2) one member of the business community; and |
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(3) one member of the civic community. |
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(d) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of: |
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(1) three members of the applicable legislative |
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chamber; and |
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(2) an administrator in the public school system or an |
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elected member of the board of trustees of a school district. |
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(e) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), |
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and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the |
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membership of the commission reflects, to the extent possible, the |
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ethnic and geographic diversity of this state. |
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Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. |
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Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The |
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agency shall provide administrative support for the commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation |
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made to the agency for that purpose. |
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Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations to address issues related to the delivery |
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of and funding for virtual education, including alternative |
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instructional delivery methods and alternative methods of funding. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that contains commission recommendations for |
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legislative action to improve the implementation of virtual |
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education. |
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Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter expires |
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January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |