Signed by Governor Rick Perry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies the procedures in the management and organization of boards of trustees in public school districts.

Highlights:

• Authorizes school districts to suspend or dismiss an employee if the employee's contract is voided by actions, including, but not limited to, one of the following (Sec. 1):
• Failure to hold a valid certificate or permit from the State Board of Education; or
• Failure to fulfill requirements necessary to extend or renew temporary, probationary, or emergency certificate.

• Prohibits a school district from suspending or dismissing an employee due to their certificate being expired under the folowing parameters (Sec. 1):
• The employee requests an extension from the State Board for Educator Certification in order to renew his or her certification or permit; or
• It is not past the 10th day after the date the contract is void, and the employee takes the necessary measures to renew their certificate.

• Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district, with approval of the commissioner, to implement a furlough program, and reduce the number of days of service by up to 6 days throughout the school year (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to reduce the salary of an employee that is furloughed, in proportion to the number of days that the service is reduced (Sec. 5).

• Requires school districts to annually perform fitness evaluations on students in grade three or higher that are enrolled in any physical education course (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the commissioner to determine if the funding per student provided to districts for the following year is less than the amount for the 2010-2011 school year (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that this legislation takes effect immediately if approved by a 2/3 vote in each house, otherwise it takes effect 91 days after the last day of the legislative session (Sec. 9).

• Rep. Lance Gooden is not listed on our vote breakdown because his vote did not accurately reflect his intentions; he initially voted "Yea" but intended to vote "Nay".

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies the procedures in the management and organization of boards of trustees in public school districts.

Highlights:

• Requires an employee within a public school district to renew their certificate or the employee's contract is void (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the ability to dismiss an employee should their certificate be found as expired to the school district (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a school district from suspending or dismissing an employee due to their certificate being expired under the following parameters (Sec. 1):
• The employee requests an extension from the State Board for Educator Certification in order to renew his or her certification or permit; or
• It is not past the 10th day after the date the contract is void, and the employee takes the necessary measures to renew their certificate.

• Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to establish a furlough program, and reduce the number of days of service by no more than 6 days throughout the school year, should they it be granted permission by the commissioner (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to annually perform fitness evaluations on students in grade three or higher that are enrolled in any physical education course (Sec. 6).

• Requires the school district commissioner, on or before July 1st of each year, to evaluate whether or not the state and local funding to the district, in ratio to average student attendance level, is less than necessary (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that this legislation takes effect immediately upon a 2/3 majority vote in each house or 91 days after the last day of the legislative session if it does not receive a 2/3 majority vote (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text