88R6092 KJE-D

By: Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 3315

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a school district's grievance procedure regarding complaints concerning violation of parental rights.

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

SECTION 1. Section 26.011, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows:

(c) The grievance procedure adopted under Subsection (a) must:

(1) provide for:

(A) a parent's complaint to be filed in writing with the principal of the campus at which the parent's student is enrolled;

(B) if the principal does not grant the requested relief, an appeal on written request to the district superintendent or the superintendent's designee that includes a review of all documents considered by the principal;

(C) if the superintendent or the superintendent's designee does not grant the requested relief, an appeal on written request to the board of trustees of the district that includes a review of all documents considered by the principal and the superintendent or the superintendent's designee; and

(D) if the board of trustees of the district does not grant the requested relief, notice to the parent regarding the parent's right to file an appeal with the commissioner under Section 7.057; and

(2) be:

(A) posted in a prominent location on the district's Internet website, along with instructions on how a parent may file a complaint; and

(B) provided to the parent of each student enrolled in the district at the beginning of each school year and on request.

(d) The agency shall:

(1) adopt a model grievance procedure for use by school districts under this section; and

(2) post on the agency's Internet website a copy of the model grievance policy and general guidelines regarding how a parent may file a complaint with a school district under this section or appeal a district's decision to the commissioner under Section 7.057.

(e) A grievance procedure adopted under this section may not require a parent to file a complaint within a specified period of time.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.