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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 task force to study the effect of |
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delayed school start times on students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency. |
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(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of |
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education. |
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(3) "Task force" means the task force established |
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under this Act. |
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SECTION 2. TASK FORCE TO STUDY SCHOOL DAY START TIMES. (a) |
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A task force is established under this section to study the effect |
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of school day start times on students in kindergarten through grade |
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12. |
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(b) The commissioner shall appoint members of the task |
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force, including: |
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(1) one pediatrician; |
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(2) one physician who specializes in sleep disorders; |
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(3) one mental health professional who specializes in |
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adolescent health issues; |
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(4) one representative of the National Alliance on |
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Mental Illness of Texas; |
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(5) one representative of the Texas Psychological |
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Association; |
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(6) one representative of Every Texan; |
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(7) one representative of Raise Your Hand Texas; |
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(8) one representative of Start School Later Texas; |
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(9) one representative of the Texas Pediatric Society; |
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(10) one representative of the Texas School Health |
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Advisory Committee; |
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(11) one representative of the Texas Association of |
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School Administrators; |
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(12) one representative of the Association of Texas |
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Professional Educators; |
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(13) one representative of the Texas School Nurses |
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Organization; |
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(14) one representative of the Texas Elementary |
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Principals and Supervisors Association; |
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(15) one representative of the Texas Association of |
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Secondary School Principals; |
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(16) one representative of the Texas Association for |
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Pupil Transportation; and |
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(17) one student enrolled in public school in this |
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state. |
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(c) The members of the task force shall select the presiding |
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officer of the task force. |
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(d) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of |
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the task force not later than January 1, 2024. The task force shall |
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meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines |
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are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to |
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fulfill the task force's duties under this section. |
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(e) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force. |
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SECTION 3. DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE. The task force shall: |
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(1) conduct a study that: |
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(A) evaluates the effect of daily school start |
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and end times on students in kindergarten through grade 12; |
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(B) considers any negative impacts on public and |
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private school students and families that may arise from delayed |
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daily school start and end times; |
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(C) evaluates studies or initiatives relating to |
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school start times that are supported by national education |
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advocacy organizations; and |
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(D) reviews any available literature regarding |
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the experience of students in other states that have delayed school |
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day start times; |
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(2) prepare an assessment on the effect of delayed |
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school day start times on the health, safety, and academic |
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performance of students; and |
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(3) provide recommendations to the agency regarding |
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the feasibility of establishing a pilot program to test delayed |
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school day start times. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2024, the |
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task force shall deliver to the commissioner of education a report |
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that includes the findings from the study, a summary of information |
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considered for the purposes of the study, and the recommendations |
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on the feasibility of a pilot program. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this |
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Act expires January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |