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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the formation of a committee to conduct proceedings |
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relating to certain complaints and grievances submitted to the |
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board of trustees of an independent school district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.1511(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The board shall: |
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(1) seek to establish working relationships with other |
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public entities to make effective use of community resources and to |
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serve the needs of public school students in the community; |
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(2) adopt a vision statement and comprehensive goals |
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for the district and the superintendent and monitor progress toward |
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those goals; |
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(3) establish performance goals for the district |
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concerning: |
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(A) the academic and fiscal performance |
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indicators under Subchapters C, D, and J, Chapter 39; and |
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(B) any performance indicators adopted by the |
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district; |
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(4) ensure that the superintendent: |
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(A) is accountable for achieving performance |
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results; |
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(B) recognizes performance accomplishments; and |
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(C) takes action as necessary to meet performance |
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goals; |
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(5) adopt a policy to establish a district- and |
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campus-level planning and decision-making process as required |
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under Section 11.251; |
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(6) publish an annual educational performance report |
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as required under Section 39.306; |
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(7) adopt an annual budget for the district as |
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required under Section 44.004; |
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(8) adopt a tax rate each fiscal year as required under |
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Section 26.05, Tax Code; |
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(9) monitor district finances to ensure that the |
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superintendent is properly maintaining the district's financial |
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procedures and records; |
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(10) ensure that district fiscal accounts are audited |
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annually as required under Section 44.008; |
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(11) publish an end-of-year financial report for |
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distribution to the community; |
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(12) conduct elections as required by law; |
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(13) by rule, adopt a process regarding a complaint |
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through which district personnel, students or the parents or |
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guardians of students, and members of the public may obtain a |
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hearing from the district administrators and: |
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(A) the board; or |
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(B) a committee composed of board members formed |
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under Section 11.1711 [regarding a complaint]; |
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(14) make decisions relating to terminating the |
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employment of district employees employed under a contract to which |
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Chapter 21 applies, including terminating or not renewing an |
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employment contract to which that chapter applies; and |
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(15) carry out other powers and duties as provided by |
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this code or other law. |
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SECTION 2. Section 11.1513(i), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(i) The employment policy must provide each school district |
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employee with the right to present grievances to: |
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(1) the district board of trustees; or |
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(2) a committee composed of members of the district |
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board of trustees. |
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SECTION 3. Section 11.171, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A school district grievance policy may permit the |
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investigation and proceedings regarding a reported grievance to be |
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conducted by a grievance and complaint committee formed under |
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Section 11.1711. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 11.1711 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.1711. GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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board of trustees of a school district may form a grievance and |
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complaint committee, composed of members of the board of trustees, |
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to conduct hearings, investigations, and other proceedings |
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relating to grievances and complaints submitted to the board |
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pursuant to a process adopted under Section 11.1511(b)(13) and a |
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policy adopted under Section 11.171. |
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(b) The actions or decisions of a grievance and complaint |
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committee shall be considered the actions or decisions of the board |
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of trustees for purposes of an appeal under Section 7.057(a). |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a grievance or complaint reported on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A grievance or complaint reported before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the grievance |
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or complaint is reported, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |