| 1 | 1 | | By: Bonnen H.B. No. 4458 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to educational options to deal with the impact of |
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| 7 | 7 | | statewide school disruptions. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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| 10 | 10 | | Section 29.926 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 29.926. PROGRAM TO OVERCOME SCHOOL DISRUPTIONS. (a) |
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| 12 | 12 | | From funds appropriated or available for purposes of this section, |
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| 13 | 13 | | the commissioner shall establish programs to assist students in |
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| 14 | 14 | | overcoming the educational impact of disasters on the state of |
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| 15 | 15 | | Texas. The programs may include, but are not limited to: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) extended instructional time; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) broadband grants to ensure student access to |
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| 18 | 18 | | instruction from home; |
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| 19 | 19 | | (3) innovation in curriculum and instruction; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (4) improvement of the quality of air and water at |
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| 21 | 21 | | school facilities; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | (5) accelerated learning. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The commissioner may determine the terms of access to |
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| 24 | 24 | | programs under this section, including limits on the amount and |
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| 25 | 25 | | approved uses of funds. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) The agency may administer the programs or contract with |
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| 27 | 27 | | another entity to administer the programs. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (d) The commissioner may recover funds not used in |
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| 29 | 29 | | accordance with the terms of the program. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (e) The commissioner may seek grants and donations from |
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| 31 | 31 | | public and private sources, including the federal government, for |
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| 32 | 32 | | programs under this section. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (f) A decision by the commissioner under this section is |
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| 34 | 34 | | final and may not be appealed. |
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| 35 | 35 | | (g) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement the |
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| 36 | 36 | | provisions of this section. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 38 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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