81R2947 EAH-D
By: Patrick, Dan S.B. No. 300
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eliminating certain mandates on school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.112(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise authorized by this section, a school
district may not enroll at a campus more than a campus-wide average
of 22 students in [a] kindergarten, first, second, third, and [or]
fourth grade classes [class]. That limitation does not apply
during:
(1) any 12-week period of the school year selected by
the district, in the case of a district whose average daily
attendance is adjusted under Section 42.005(c); or
(2) the last 12 weeks of any school year in the case of
any other district.
SECTION 2. Section 34.0021(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Pursuant to the safety standards established by the
Department of Public Safety under Section 34.002, each school
district may [shall] conduct a training session for students and
teachers concerning procedures for evacuating a school bus during
an emergency.
SECTION 3. Sections 39.112(a) and (d), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a school campus or
district that is rated as recognized or exemplary is exempt from
requirements and prohibitions imposed under this code including
rules adopted under this code.
(d) The commissioner may exempt a [an exemplary] school
campus that is rated as recognized or exemplary from elementary
class size limits under this section if the school campus submits to
the commissioner a written plan showing steps that will be taken to
ensure that the exemption from the class size limits will not be
harmful to the academic achievement of the students on the school
campus. The commissioner shall review achievement levels annually.
The exemption remains in effect until the commissioner determines
that achievement levels of the campus have declined.
SECTION 4. Section 44.902, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 44.902. GOAL TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY.
The board of trustees of a school district may [shall] establish a
goal to reduce the school district's annual electric consumption by
five percent each state fiscal year for six years beginning
September 1, 2007.
SECTION 5. Section 44.903(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A school district is encouraged to [shall] purchase for
use in each type of light fixture in an instructional facility the
commercially available model of light bulb that:
(1) uses the fewest watts for the necessary luminous
flux or light output;
(2) is compatible with the light fixture; and
(3) is the most cost-effective, considering the
factors described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).
SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Education Code
are repealed:
(1) Sections 34.0021(b) and (d); and
(2) Section 44.901(b).
SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 8. 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, 2009.