| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to training requirements for certain public officials and |
|
|
candidates for public office. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 11.159(c-1) and (d), Education Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(c-1) The agency shall, for the training required by |
|
|
Subsections (b-2) and (c): |
|
|
(1) provide the training; and |
|
|
(2) certify the completion of the training by a |
|
|
trustee or candidate for trustee [Subsection (c)(1) must be |
|
|
research-based and designed to support the oversight role of the |
|
|
board of trustees under Section 11.1515]. |
|
|
(d) A trustee or candidate for trustee may complete training |
|
|
required under Subsections (b-2) and [Subsection] (c) at a regional |
|
|
education service center [or through another authorized provider. |
|
|
A provider must certify the completion of the training by a trustee |
|
|
or candidate]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 74.025, Government Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 74.025. EDUCATION PROGRAMS. The court of criminal |
|
|
appeals shall, if adequate funding is available for education |
|
|
programs for judges and court personnel, ensure that adequate |
|
|
education programs are available through an institution of higher |
|
|
education or the State Bar of Texas on an equitable basis for judges |
|
|
and court personnel of courts created under the constitution and |
|
|
laws of this state. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Sections 418.005(d) and (e), Government Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) The division may provide the training and may also |
|
|
approve any acceptable course of training provided [offered] by a |
|
|
governmental body [or other entity]. The division shall ensure |
|
|
that at least one course of training approved or provided by the |
|
|
division is available on videotape or a functionally similar and |
|
|
widely available medium at no cost. |
|
|
(e) The division or governmental body [other entity] |
|
|
providing the training shall provide a certificate of course |
|
|
completion to a person who completes the training required by this |
|
|
section. A person who completes the training required by this |
|
|
section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the |
|
|
record of the person's completion of the training. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Sections 551.005(b) and (c), Government Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is |
|
|
made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the |
|
|
training and may also approve any acceptable course of training |
|
|
offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney |
|
|
general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved |
|
|
or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a |
|
|
functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The |
|
|
training must include instruction in: |
|
|
(1) the general background of the legal requirements |
|
|
for open meetings; |
|
|
(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental |
|
|
bodies; |
|
|
(3) procedures and requirements regarding quorums, |
|
|
notice, and recordkeeping under this chapter; |
|
|
(4) procedures and requirements for holding an open |
|
|
meeting and for holding a closed meeting under this chapter; and |
|
|
(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to |
|
|
comply with this chapter. |
|
|
(c) The office of the attorney general or other governmental |
|
|
body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of |
|
|
course completion to persons who complete the training required by |
|
|
this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make |
|
|
available for public inspection the record of its members' |
|
|
completion of the training. |
|
|
SECTION 5. Sections 552.012(d) and (e), Government Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is |
|
|
made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the |
|
|
training and may also approve any acceptable course of training |
|
|
offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney |
|
|
general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved |
|
|
or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a |
|
|
functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The |
|
|
training must include instruction in: |
|
|
(1) the general background of the legal requirements |
|
|
for open records and public information; |
|
|
(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental |
|
|
bodies; |
|
|
(3) procedures and requirements regarding complying |
|
|
with a request for information under this chapter; |
|
|
(4) the role of the attorney general under this |
|
|
chapter; and |
|
|
(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to |
|
|
comply with this chapter. |
|
|
(e) The office of the attorney general or other governmental |
|
|
body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of |
|
|
course completion to persons who complete the training required by |
|
|
this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make |
|
|
available for public inspection the record of its public officials' |
|
|
or, if applicable, the public information coordinator's completion |
|
|
of the training. |
|
|
SECTION 6. Section 2063.102(b), Government Code, as |
|
|
effective September 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) To be certified under Subsection (a), a cybersecurity |
|
|
training program must: |
|
|
(1) focus on forming appropriate cybersecurity habits |
|
|
and procedures that protect information resources; [and] |
|
|
(2) teach best practices and minimum standards |
|
|
established under this subchapter; and |
|
|
(3) be provided by a state agency or local government. |
|
|
SECTION 7. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 180.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 180.014. OFFICER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING |
|
|
REQUIREMENTS. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the |
|
|
governing body of a municipality, a member of a school board, an |
|
|
elected county officer, or an individual appointed to fill a |
|
|
vacancy in an elective county office is not required to attend or |
|
|
complete any continuing education training required for the office. |
|
|
(b) This section does not affect the requirements for |
|
|
training related to any occupational license. |
|
|
SECTION 8. Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(c) Continuing education required by this section must be: |
|
|
(1) approved by the comptroller; and |
|
|
(2) provided by the comptroller [a state agency] or an |
|
|
accredited institution of higher education, including an |
|
|
institution that is a part of or associated with an accredited |
|
|
institution of higher education, such as the V. G. Young Institute |
|
|
of County Government. |
|
|
SECTION 9. The following provisions are repealed: |
|
|
(1) Section 418.005(g), Government Code; |
|
|
(2) Section 2063.102(c), Government Code; |
|
|
(3) Section 81.0025, Local Government Code; |
|
|
(4) Section 83.003, Local Government Code; and |
|
|
(5) Section 84.0085, Local Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 10. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, the State Board of Education shall modify all rules |
|
|
that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 11. Section 11.159, Education Code, Sections |
|
|
418.005, 551.005, 552.012, and 2063.102, Government Code, and |
|
|
Section 6.231, Tax Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to |
|
|
training conducted on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
Training conducted before the effective date of this Act is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 12. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
|
|
last day of the legislative session. |