Bill Text: TX SB571 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility of certain contract employees to provide services to a public school and access to the registry of persons who are not eligible for employment at public schools.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-12 - Filed [SB571 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB571-Introduced.html
  89R1966 MEW-D
 
  By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 571
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of certain contract employees to
  provide services to a public school and access to the registry of
  persons who are not eligible for employment at public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 22.0834(a) and (o), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  This [Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), this]
  subsection applies to a person who is not an applicant for or holder
  of a certificate under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and who is offered
  employment by an entity or a subcontractor of an entity that
  contracts with a school district, open-enrollment charter school,
  or shared services arrangement to provide services, if[:
               [(1)]  the employee or applicant has or will have
  [continuing] duties related to the contracted services that require
  the employee or applicant to be physically present at an
  instructional facility[; and
               [(2)  the employee or applicant has or will have direct
  contact with students].
         (o)  A school district, charter school, regional education
  service center, commercial transportation company, education
  shared services arrangement, or qualified school contractor,
  contracting entity, or subcontracting entity may not permit an
  employee to whom Subsection (a) applies to provide services at a
  school if the employee:
               (1)  has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor
  offense that would prevent a person from being employed under
  Section 22.085(a); or
               (2)  is identified as having engaged in misconduct
  described by Section 22.093(c)(1)(A) or (B) using the interagency
  reportable conduct search engine established under Chapter 810,
  Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 22.092(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The agency shall provide equivalent access to the
  registry maintained under this section to:
               (1)  private schools;
               (2)  public schools; [and]
               (3)  nonprofit teacher organizations approved by the
  commissioner for the purpose of participating in the tutoring
  program established under Section 33.913; and
               (4)  entities and subcontractors of entities that
  contract with a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or
  shared services arrangement to provide services.
         SECTION 3.  The following provisions of the Education Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 22.0834(a-1) and (l); and
               (2)  Section 22.0834(p)(2).
         SECTION 4.  Section 22.0834, Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a contract entered into on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  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.
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