By: Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 3241
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to informal methods of seeking resolution to grievances or
complaints of school district employees or parents of school
district students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.171, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) A school district grievance policy:
(1) may not require a school district employee to seek
resolution of the employee's grievance through an informal method
before seeking resolution through formal methods prescribed under
the grievance policy; and
(2) must provide that any time limits applicable to
the resolution of a grievance through formal methods prescribed
under the grievance policy are tolled while an employee is actively
seeking resolution of the employee's grievance through an informal
method.
SECTION 2. Section 26.011, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 26.011. COMPLAINTS. (a) The board of trustees of each
school district shall adopt a grievance procedure under which the
board shall address each complaint that the board receives
concerning violation of a right guaranteed by this chapter.
(b) A grievance procedure under this section:
(1) may not require a parent to seek resolution of the
parent's complaint through an informal method before seeking
resolution through formal methods prescribed under the grievance
procedure; and
(2) must provide that any time limits applicable to
the resolution of a complaint through formal methods prescribed
under the grievance procedure are tolled while a parent is actively
seeking resolution of the parent's complaint through an informal
method.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
11.171 and 26.011, Education Code, apply only to a grievance or
complaint reported on or after the effective date of this Act. A
grievance or complaint reported before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect when the grievance or complaint
is reported, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.