Bill Text: TX HB1666 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a task force on school district administrative efficiency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-04 - Referred to Public Education [HB1666 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB1666-Introduced.html

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83R4865 CAS-D
By: Carter H.B. No. 1666

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a task force on school district administrative
efficiency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. TASK FORCE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE
EFFICIENCY
Sec. 11.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"
means the task force on school district administrative efficiency
established under this subchapter.
Sec. 11.502. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; PURPOSE. A task
force on school district administrative efficiency shall be
established to review and analyze agency data collected from school
districts on the costs of district administrative services and to
determine how school district administration may be made more
efficient through administrative reorganization and consolidation.
Sec. 11.503. COMPOSITION; VACANCY; APPOINTMENT. (a) The
task force shall be composed of nine members as follows:
(1) four members appointed by the governor as follows:
(A) a parent of a public school student in this
state;
(B) a business person with professional
experience relating to reorganization and modernization of a
private or public organization;
(C) a retired superintendent of a school district
in this state with an enrollment of at least 100,000 students; and
(D) a retired superintendent of a school district
in this state with an enrollment of not more than 25,000 students;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor
as follows:
(A) a retired principal of a public school in
this state or a retired superintendent of a school district in this
state;
(B) a person with not less than 10 years of
classroom teaching experience in a school district that, during the
preceding school year, had a wealth per student, as defined by
Section 41.001, that was in the highest 25 percent among school
districts in this state; and
(C) a person with not less than 10 years of
classroom teaching experience in a school district that, during the
preceding school year, had a wealth per student, as defined by
Section 41.001, that was in the lowest 25 percent among school
districts in this state; and
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives as follows:
(A) a person employed by or otherwise associated
with an institution of higher education in this state who has an
academic degree or other background in economics, finance,
accounting, or business; and
(B) a person with professional experience
relating to reorganization and modernization of a private or public
organization or a retired superintendent of a school district in
this state.
(b) Initial appointments to the task force shall be made not
later than October 1, 2013.
(c) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same
manner as the initial appointment.
Sec. 11.504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE. (a) While
serving on the task force, an individual may not:
(1) hold any public office or be a member of another
state board, commission, committee, or task force; or
(2) be an employee of any state department, agency,
institution, board, commission, committee, or task force.
(b) An individual may not be a member of the task force or
act as the general counsel to the task force if the individual or
the individual's spouse is required to register as a lobbyist under
Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the individual's
activities for compensation on behalf of a profession or entity
related to the operation of the task force.
Sec. 11.505. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE; CONTRACTS. (a) The task
force shall perform a thorough review of all school district
administrative functions, including responsibilities of district
administrators, and expenditures by districts, in order to:
(1) identify the causes of administrative
inefficiencies;
(2) identify duplicative assignments, rules,
policies, or procedures that may be consolidated; and
(3) consider and develop solutions and methods to
correct and improve any duplicative or inefficient administrative
practice.
(b) The agency, the house of representatives, and the senate
shall provide staff support for the task force.
(c) The task force may enter into a contract for research or
professional services as may be necessary or appropriate to
facilitate activities of the task force.
Sec. 11.506. MEETINGS. (a) The first meeting of the task
force shall be held not later than November 1, 2013, at the call of
the governor. At that meeting, the members of the task force shall
elect a presiding officer from among the members.
(b) After the first meeting of the task force, regular
meetings shall be held quarterly, and other meetings, hearings, or
proceedings may be held at any other time at the call of the
presiding officer as necessary to accomplish the goals of the task
force.
(c) A member of the task force who does not attend more than
50 percent of the regularly scheduled meetings is subject to
removal from the task force unless attendance at a lower percentage
of meetings is approved by a majority vote of the task force.
Sec. 11.507. REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member of the task force
may not receive compensation for the services provided as a member
of the task force.
(b) A member of the task force is entitled to reimbursement
for the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in
performing task force duties. Such reimbursement to task force
members may be authorized by the task force to be paid from funds
received and administered by the task force from gifts, grants, and
donations accepted under Section 11.508.
Sec. 11.508. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) For the
purpose of funding any activity of the task force under this
subchapter, the task force may apply for and accept:
(1) gifts, grants, and donations from:
(A) an organization exempt from federal taxation
under Section 501(c)(3) or (4), Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
(B) a private individual or entity; or
(2) federal grant money.
(b) The task force may authorize and disburse subgrants of
money from money accepted under Subsection (a) for appropriate
programs, services, and activities related to and in accordance
with the purposes and activities of the task force.
(c) A gift, grant, or donation to the task force shall be
reported in the meeting minutes of the task force with the name of
the grantor or donor and a statement of the purpose of the gift,
grant, or donation accepted.
Sec. 11.509. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. The task force is
not subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.
Sec. 11.510. REPORT; SUBMISSION. (a) The task force shall
compile a final detailed report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation and rule or
policy changes necessary or appropriate to implement procedures and
programs to prevent the causes and occurrence of future
administrative inefficiencies. The report must also include copies
of all meeting minutes.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2014, the task force shall
submit the report described by Subsection (a) to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee
with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education or
state fiscal appropriations.
Sec. 11.511. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January
1, 2015.
SECTION 2. 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, 2013.