Bill Text: TX SB123 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the commissioner of education to issue subpoenas and conduct accreditation investigations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [SB123 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB123-Enrolled.html
 
 
  S.B. No. 123
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of the commissioner of education to issue
  subpoenas and conduct accreditation investigations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 39.0302, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  During an agency investigation or audit of a school
  district under Section 39.0301(e) or (f), an accreditation
  investigation under Section 39.057(a)(8) or (13) [39.075(a)(8)],
  or an investigation by the State Board for Educator Certification
  of an educator for an alleged violation of an assessment instrument
  security procedure established under Section 39.0301(a), the
  commissioner may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a
  relevant witness or the production, for inspection or copying, of
  relevant evidence that is located in this state.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 39.057, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner may [shall] authorize special
  accreditation investigations to be conducted:
               (1)  when excessive numbers of absences of students
  eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are
  determined;
               (2)  when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions
  from the required state assessment instruments are determined;
               (3)  in response to complaints submitted to the agency
  with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other
  requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order;
               (4)  in response to established compliance reviews of
  the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal
  program requirements;
               (5)  when extraordinary numbers of student placements
  in disciplinary alternative education programs, other than
  placements under Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined;
               (6)  in response to an allegation involving a conflict
  between members of the board of trustees or between the board and
  the district administration if it appears that the conflict
  involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the
  administration clearly defined by this code;
               (7)  when excessive numbers of students in special
  education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, are assessed
  through assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section
  39.023(b);
               (8)  in response to an allegation regarding or an
  analysis using a statistical method result indicating a possible
  violation of an assessment instrument security procedure
  established under Section 39.0301, including for the purpose of
  investigating or auditing a school district under that section;
               (9)  when a significant pattern of decreased academic
  performance has developed as a result of the promotion in the
  preceding two school years of students who did not perform
  satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner under Section
  39.0241(a) on assessment instruments administered under Section
  39.023(a), (c), or (l);
               (10)  when excessive numbers of students graduate under
  the minimum high school program;
               (11)  when excessive numbers of students eligible to
  enroll fail to complete an Algebra II course or any other course
  determined by the commissioner as distinguishing between students
  participating in the recommended high school program from students
  participating in the minimum high school program;
               (12)  when resource allocation practices as evaluated
  under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for significant
  improvement in resource allocation; [or]
               (13)  in response to a complaint submitted to the
  agency with respect to alleged inaccurate data that is reported
  through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS)
  or through other reports required by state or federal law or rule or
  court order and that is used by the agency to make a determination
  relating to public school accountability, including accreditation,
  under this chapter; or
               (14)  as the commissioner otherwise determines
  necessary.
         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, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 123 passed the Senate on
  April 3, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 21, 2013, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 123 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 16, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 123,
  Nays 19, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor
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