| 1 | 1 | | 84R3369 KKA-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Allen H.B. No. 568 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a review by the commissioner of education of state law |
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| 8 | 8 | | regarding student suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary |
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| 9 | 9 | | action and the implementation of that law by school districts. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. REVIEW. (a) The commissioner of education shall |
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| 12 | 12 | | conduct a review of the student disciplinary provisions in Chapter |
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| 13 | 13 | | 37, Education Code, the rules adopted under those provisions, and |
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| 14 | 14 | | the implementation of those provisions and rules by school |
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| 15 | 15 | | districts in this state. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) In conducting the review, the commissioner of education |
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| 17 | 17 | | shall focus attention on provisions that permit a school district |
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| 18 | 18 | | to exercise discretion in determining whether to suspend a student, |
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| 19 | 19 | | place a student in a disciplinary alternative education program, or |
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| 20 | 20 | | expel a student. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (c) The commissioner of education shall provide opportunity |
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| 22 | 22 | | for public comment regarding the review. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 2. DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) |
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| 24 | 24 | | After conducting the review and receiving public comment, the |
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| 25 | 25 | | commissioner of education shall develop a proposed plan for |
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| 26 | 26 | | reducing the number of discretionary disciplinary actions taken by |
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| 27 | 27 | | school districts in this state, including recommendations for any |
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| 28 | 28 | | necessary changes to state law to facilitate that goal. |
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| 29 | 29 | | (b) The commissioner of education shall post the proposed |
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| 30 | 30 | | plan and any recommendations for changes to state law on the Texas |
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| 31 | 31 | | Education Agency's Internet website and provide an additional |
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| 32 | 32 | | period for public comment before finalizing the plan and any |
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| 33 | 33 | | recommendations. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2016, the |
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| 35 | 35 | | commissioner of education shall submit a report to the governor, |
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| 36 | 36 | | lieutenant governor, and members of the legislature containing the |
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| 37 | 37 | | results of the review and the plan and any recommendations |
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| 38 | 38 | | developed as a result of the review. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2017. |
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| 40 | 40 | | SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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| 41 | 41 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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| 42 | 42 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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| 44 | 44 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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