85R12558 KKA-D By: RodrÃguez S.B. No. 1535 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to school districts of innovation. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A local innovation plan must: (1) provide for a comprehensive educational program for the district, which [program] may include: (A) innovative curriculum, instructional methods, and provisions regarding community participation, campus governance, and parental involvement; (B) modifications to the school day or year; (C) provisions regarding the district budget and sustainable program funding; (D) accountability and assessment measures that exceed the requirements of state and federal law; and (E) any other innovations prescribed by the board of trustees; [and] (2) identify requirements imposed by this code that inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004; and (3) include a detailed explanation of the manner in which each requirement identified under Subdivision (2) inhibits the goals of the plan. SECTION 2. Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A local innovation plan may not provide for the exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from a provision of this chapter or the following provisions of this title: (1) a state or federal requirement applicable to an open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D, Chapter 12; (2) Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and Section 11.162; (3) Chapters 21 and 22; (4) elementary school class size limits under Section 25.112; (5) state curriculum and graduation requirements adopted under Chapter 28; (6) Chapter 37; and (7) [(4)] academic and financial accountability and sanctions under Chapter 39. SECTION 3. Sections 12A.003 and 12A.004, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a local innovation plan adopted or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A local innovation plan adopted or renewed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the plan was adopted or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. 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, 2017.