TX
Texas Senate Bill SB503

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB503 Compare Versions

The same version is selected twice. Please select two different versions to compare.
OldNewDifferences
11 83R17316 CAS-F
22 By: West S.B. No. 503
33 (Strama, Bohac, Villarreal)
44 Substitute the following for S.B. No. 503: No.
55
66
77 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
88 AN ACT
99 relating to the establishment of the Expanded Learning
1010 Opportunities Council to study and make recommendations concerning
1111 expanded learning opportunities for public school students.
1212 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1313 SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding
1414 Subchapter G to read as follows:
1515 SUBCHAPTER G. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL
1616 Sec. 33.251. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means
1717 the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council.
1818 Sec. 33.252. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. (a)
1919 Expanded learning opportunities may be provided during:
2020 (1) an extended school day;
2121 (2) an extended school year; or
2222 (3) structured learning programs outside of the
2323 regular school day, including before- and after-school programs and
2424 summer programs.
2525 (b) Expanded learning opportunities may be provided by
2626 offering:
2727 (1) rigorous coursework;
2828 (2) mentoring;
2929 (3) tutoring;
3030 (4) physical activity;
3131 (5) academic support; or
3232 (6) educational enrichment in one or more subjects,
3333 including fine arts, civic engagement, science, technology,
3434 engineering, and mathematics.
3535 Sec. 33.253. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Expanded
3636 Learning Opportunities Council is established to:
3737 (1) study issues concerning expanded learning
3838 opportunities for this state's public school students, including:
3939 (A) issues related to creating safe places for
4040 children outside of the regular school day, improving the academic
4141 success of students who participate in expanded learning
4242 opportunities programs, and assisting working families; and
4343 (B) other issues prescribed under Section
4444 33.258; and
4545 (2) make recommendations as provided by Section 33.259
4646 to address issues studied under this subchapter.
4747 (b) In conducting studies under this subchapter, the
4848 council shall focus on innovative, hands-on learning approaches
4949 that complement rather than replicate the regular school
5050 curriculum.
5151 Sec. 33.254. SUNSET PROVISION. The council is subject to
5252 Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
5353 in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is abolished
5454 and this subchapter expires September 1, 2017.
5555 Sec. 33.255. COMPOSITION. The council is composed of 13
5656 members appointed by the commissioner as follows:
5757 (1) two members of the public, including one
5858 representing the business community and one parent of a public
5959 school student participating in an expanded learning opportunities
6060 program in this state;
6161 (2) two members who are involved in research-based
6262 expanded learning opportunities efforts in this state so that at
6363 least one is involved in efforts to extend the school day or school
6464 year and at least one is involved in efforts to provide out of
6565 school time before or after the regular school day or during the
6666 period in which school is recessed for the summer;
6767 (3) one member representing law enforcement;
6868 (4) one member representing the agency;
6969 (5) one member who is an educator, other than a
7070 superintendent, at the elementary school level;
7171 (6) one member who is an educator, other than a
7272 superintendent, at the middle or junior high school level;
7373 (7) one member who is an educator, other than a
7474 superintendent, at the high school level;
7575 (8) one member who is a public school superintendent;
7676 (9) one member representing a foundation that invests
7777 in expanded learning opportunities;
7878 (10) one member representing a nonprofit organization
7979 that provides programs concerning good nutrition and prevention of
8080 or intervention to address childhood obesity; and
8181 (11) one member who is a provider representing summer
8282 camps.
8383 Sec. 33.256. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet in
8484 person at least three times each year and may hold additional
8585 meetings by conference call if necessary.
8686 (b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting
8787 held by conference call under this section, except that Section
8888 551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply.
8989 Sec. 33.257. COMPENSATION. A member of the council may not
9090 receive compensation for service on the council.
9191 Sec. 33.258. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The council shall:
9292 (1) study issues related to expanded learning
9393 opportunities for public school students;
9494 (2) study current research and best practices related
9595 to meaningful expanded learning opportunities;
9696 (3) analyze the availability of and unmet needs for
9797 state and local programs for expanded learning opportunities for
9898 public school students;
9999 (4) analyze opportunities to create incentives for
100100 businesses to support expanded learning opportunities programs for
101101 public school students;
102102 (5) analyze opportunities to maximize charitable
103103 support for public and private partnerships for expanded learning
104104 opportunities programs for public school students;
105105 (6) analyze opportunities to promote science,
106106 technology, engineering, and mathematics in expanded learning
107107 opportunities programs for public school students;
108108 (7) study the future workforce needs of this state's
109109 businesses and other employers; and
110110 (8) perform other duties consistent with this
111111 subchapter.
112112 (b) In carrying out its powers and duties under this
113113 section, the council may request reports and other information
114114 relating to expanded learning opportunities and students in
115115 expanded learning opportunities programs from the Texas Education
116116 Agency and any other state agency.
117117 Sec. 33.259. STATEWIDE EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
118118 PLAN; REPORT. (a) The council shall develop a comprehensive
119119 statewide action plan for the improvement of expanded learning
120120 opportunities for public school students in this state, including a
121121 timeline for implementation of the plan.
122122 (b) The council shall submit to both houses of the
123123 legislature, the governor, and the agency on or before November 1 of
124124 each even-numbered year a written report concerning:
125125 (1) the status of the development or implementation of
126126 the council's statewide action plan, as applicable;
127127 (2) any action taken to further development or
128128 implementation of the plan;
129129 (3) any area that needs improvement in implementing
130130 the plan;
131131 (4) any recommended change to the plan; and
132132 (5) programs and services that address expanded
133133 learning opportunities outside of the regular school day.
134134 Sec. 33.260. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The agency may
135135 accept on behalf of the council a gift, grant, or donation from any
136136 source to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.
137137 SECTION 2. (a) The Expanded Learning Opportunities Council
138138 shall submit the initial report required under Subchapter G,
139139 Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
140140 November 1, 2014.
141141 (b) Not later than December 31, 2013, the commissioner of
142142 education shall appoint the members of the Expanded Learning
143143 Opportunities Council under Subchapter G, Chapter 33, Education
144144 Code, as added by this Act.
145145 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
146146 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
147147 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
148148 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
149149 Act takes effect September 1, 2013.