By: Taylor S.B. No. 2431
(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 21, 2019, read
first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 16, 2019,
reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 16, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2431 By: Taylor
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a committee to recommend a framework to
incorporate digital teaching and learning in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter O to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER O. NEXT GENERATION COMMISSION ON DIGITAL LEARNING
Sec. 39.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Next Generation Commission on Digital Learning.
Sec. 39.602. NEXT GENERATION COMMISSION ON DIGITAL
LEARNING. (a) The Next Generation Commission on Digital Learning
is established to develop and make recommendations for establishing
a framework for the incorporation of digital teaching and learning
in public schools.
(b) The commission is composed of 15 members, consisting of
the following:
(1) four members appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives;
(4) the chair of the senate committee on education, or
a representative designated by the chair;
(5) the chair of the senate committee on higher
education, or a representative designated by the chair;
(6) the chair of the house of representatives public
education committee, or a representative designated by the chair;
(7) the chair of the house of representatives
committee on higher education, or a representative designated by
the chair; and
(8) a member of the State Board of Education, as
designated by the chair of that board.
(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),
and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the
commission includes at least one of each of the following
representatives:
(1) a parent of or person standing in parental
relation to a student enrolled in the public school system;
(2) an educator in the public school system;
(3) an educator in a school district that is a
participant in the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium under
Section 7.0561;
(4) a member of the business community;
(5) a member of the civic community;
(6) a leader in digital teaching and learning; and
(7) a leader in researching the impact of digital
teaching and learning on student performance.
Sec. 39.603. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate the presiding officer of the commission.
Sec. 39.604. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
Sec. 39.605. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING.
(a) Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative
support for the commission.
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency
for that purpose.
Sec. 39.606. RECOMMENDATIONS. The commission shall develop
recommendations under this subchapter to:
(1) provide a funding proposal to present to the
legislature for digital teaching and learning in elementary and
secondary schools that includes funding to:
(A) improve student outcomes through the use of
digital teaching and learning technology; and
(B) provide high-quality professional learning
for educators to improve student outcomes through the use of
digital teaching and learning technology;
(2) develop a framework for effective statewide
deployment of digital teaching and learning materials in elementary
and secondary schools; and
(3) develop and implement strategies that assist
school districts in the adoption and implementation of digital
teaching and learning materials.
Sec. 39.607. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2020, the
commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and
the legislature that recommends statutory changes to develop a
framework to incorporate digital teaching and learning in public
schools.
Sec. 39.608. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.
(a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill
its duties under this subchapter.
(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
Sec. 39.609. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
SUBCHAPTER. (a) The commission is abolished January 1, 2021.
(b) This subchapter expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency is required to
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to,
implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
available for that purpose.
SECTION 3. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.
* * * * *