87R12395 BDP-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 3861
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force to study the effect of
delayed school start times on students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency.
(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of
education.
(3) "Task force" means the task force established
under this Act.
SECTION 2. TASK FORCE TO STUDY SCHOOL DAY START TIMES. (a)
A task force is established under this section to study the effect
of school day start times on students in kindergarten through grade
12.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint members of the task
force, including:
(1) one pediatrician;
(2) one physician who specializes in sleep disorders;
(3) one mental health professional who specializes in
adolescent health issues;
(4) one representative of the National Alliance on
Mental Illness;
(5) one representative of the Texas Psychology
Association;
(6) one representative of Every Texan;
(7) one representative of Raise Your Hand Texas;
(8) one representative of Start School Later Texas;
(9) one representative of the Texas Pediatric Society;
(10) one representative of the Texas School Health
Advisory Committee;
(11) one representative of the Texas Association of
School Administrators;
(12) one representative of the Texas Professional
Educators;
(13) one representative of the Texas School Nurses
Organization;
(14) one representative of the Texas Principals
Association;
(15) one representative of the Texas Association for
Pupil Transportation;
(16) one student enrolled in public school in this
state;
(17) one representative of the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;
(18) one representative of the American Academy of
Pediatrics;
(19) one representative of the American Academy of
Sleep Medicine;
(20) one representative of the American Medical
Association;
(21) one representative of Goose Creek Consolidated
Independent School District;
(22) one representative of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention;
(23) one representative of Texas Children's Hospital;
(24) one representative of Texas Tech University
Health Science Center;
(25) one representative of University of Texas Medical
Branch;
(26) one representative of Circadian Sleep Disorders
Network;
(27) one representative of Sleep Medicine and
Neurology Consultants;
(28) one representative of Children's Health Dallas;
(29) one representative of the League of Women Voters
of Tarrant County;
(30) one representative of the National Education
Association;
(31) one representative of the National Parent Teacher
Association;
(32) one representative of Deer Park Independent
School District; and
(33) one representative of the Society of Pediatric
Nurses.
(c) The members of the task force shall select the presiding
officer of the task force.
(d) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of
the task force not later than January 1, 2022. The task force shall
meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines
are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to
fulfill the task force's duties under this section.
(e) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
task force.
SECTION 3. DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE. The task force shall:
(1) conduct a study that:
(A) evaluates the effect of daily school start
and end times on students in kindergarten through grade 12;
(B) considers any negative impacts on public and
private school students and families that may arise from delayed
daily school start and end times;
(C) evaluates studies or initiatives relating to
school start times that are supported by national education
advocacy organizations; and
(D) reviews any available literature regarding
the experience of students in other states that have delayed school
day start times;
(2) prepare an assessment on the effect of delayed
school day start times on the health, safety, and academic
performance of students; and
(3) provide recommendations to the agency regarding
the feasibility of establishing a pilot program to test delayed
school day start times.
SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the
task force shall deliver a report to the commissioner of education
that includes the findings from the study, a summary of information
considered for the purposes of the study, and the recommendations
on the feasibility of a pilot program.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this
Act expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.