By: Oliverson H.B. No. 2243

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter P to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER P. TEXAS COMMISSION ON TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION AND

RETENTION

Sec. 21.751. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" means the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

Sec. 21.752. TEXAS COMMISSION ON TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION AND RETENTION. (a) The Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention is established to develop and make recommendations for improving teacher job satisfaction and retention.

(b) The commission is composed of 13 members, consisting of the following:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of:

(1) three members of the applicable legislative chamber; and

(2) an administrator in the public school system or an elected member of the board of trustees of a school district.

(d) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the membership of the commission reflects, to the extent possible, the ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.

Sec. 21.753. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate the presiding officer of the commission.

Sec. 21.754. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.

Sec. 21.755. COMMISSION PERSONNEL. The commission may hire employees and hire or contract with legal counsel as necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

Sec. 21.756. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support for the commission. If the agency employs a staff member whose sole duty is for support of the commission, selection of the staff member shall be done in conjunction with the presiding officer or the presiding officer's designee.

(b) Funding for the administrative, staffing, legal, and operational expenses of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency for that purpose.

(c) The agency may procure goods and services to support the commission's work, including without limitation research and consulting services, and is delegated all authority and purchasing functions relating to the purchase of those goods or services without complying with standard procurement law, rules, regulations and procedures. If a contract is funded through the appropriations described in this subchapter, and the agency has selected the contractor in accordance with Section 29.035(d), then purchasing requirements including without limitation those set forth in Section 2254, Section 2155.061, Section 2155.063, and Section 2155.0755, Government Code, do not apply to the procurement function under this subchapter. The commission's members shall vote on the selected contractor and final contract, and if approved by majority vote, then the commissioner shall execute the contract on behalf of the commission.

Sec. 21.757. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall develop recommendations under this subchapter that improve student outcomes by addressing issues related to teacher job satisfaction and retention, including:

(1) methods to reduce the paperwork and other administrative burdens placed on teachers, including by evaluating the effectiveness of Section 7.060 and other laws in reducing paperwork for teachers;

(2) the impact of requirements in this code and commissioner rules on administrative staffing levels in public schools;

(3) methods to lessen administrative burdens in public schools to focus more resources on supporting teachers;

(4) the impact of state and federal education law regarding discipline on teacher job satisfaction and effectiveness; and

(5) the impact of compliance with federal education law on teacher job satisfaction and retention, including the impact on teachers, public school students, and public primary and secondary education programs in this state if this state were to decline federal education funding.

(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to refer to the commission for consideration.

Sec. 21.758. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve teacher job satisfaction and retention.

Sec. 21.759. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties under this subchapter.

(b) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties under this subchapter.

(c) As an advisory body, the commission is not subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.

(d) The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government Code.

Sec. 21.760. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION. The commission is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. Not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act, the appropriate persons shall make the appointments required by Section 21.752, Education Code, as added by this Act.

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, 2025.