87R2738 BDP-F

By: West S.B. No. 272

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring the board of trustees of each school district to create a nonvoting student trustee position on the board.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0512 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.0512. STUDENT TRUSTEE. (a) In addition to the number of trustees of a school district as provided by Section 11.051, the board of trustees of each school district shall appoint a student trustee in the manner provided by this section.

(b) The commissioner shall develop a uniform application form to be used to solicit eligible applicants for the position of student trustee.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the principal of each high school in a school district shall:

(1) not later than November 1 of each year, solicit applicants for appointment to the next regular term of the position of student trustee of the school district using the uniform application form developed under Subsection (b);

(2) not later than January 1, select three applicants from the applications received to serve as the school's recommendations for the position of student trustee; and

(3) send the school's recommendations and corresponding applications to the president of the board of trustees of the school district.

(d) The principal of the high school at which a current student trustee is enrolled at the time of the student's appointment may not solicit applicants for the position of student trustee for the next regular term of the position.

(e) The president of the board of trustees of each school district shall select two or more applicants from the applications received to serve as recommendations to the board for the student trustee position.

(f) The board of trustees of a school district may request to review all applications for the position of student trustee received by the board president and may request an applicant to submit additional information.

(g) On June 1, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the board by majority vote shall appoint one of the applicants to serve as the student trustee for the district for a one-year term expiring May 31 of the following year.

(h) To be eligible for appointment as a student trustee for a school district, a person must:

(1) be enrolled as a student at a high school in the district; and

(2) be in good academic standing as determined by the school at which the student is enrolled at the time of appointment.

(i) Throughout a student's term as a student trustee, the student must:

(1) remain enrolled at the school; and

(2) maintain a grade point average of 2.5 on a four-point scale, or the equivalent.

(j) The principal of the school at which a student trustee is enrolled shall notify the president of the board of trustees of the school district if the student trustee fails to maintain the qualifications required by Subsection (i). On receiving notice, the president of the board of trustees of the school district shall declare the position as vacant and as soon as practicable fill the vacancy in the manner prescribed by Subsection (l).

(k) A student trustee is not a member of the board of trustees of the school district for which the student is appointed. A student trustee has the same powers and duties as a member of the board of trustees, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the board, except that the student trustee:

(1) may not vote on any matter before the board or make or second any motion before the board; and

(2) is not counted in determining whether a quorum exists for a meeting of the board or in determining the outcome of any vote of the board.

(l) A vacancy in the position of student trustee for a school district shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the president of the board of trustees of the school district in consultation with the board.

(m) A student trustee serves without compensation but is entitled to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the student in attending meetings of the board, subject to the approval of the president of the board of trustees of the school district.

(n) A school district may grant to a student who fulfills the requirements of service of a student trustee not more than one academic course credit in a subject area determined appropriate by the district.

SECTION 2. Section 11.0511, Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.