88R12575 TSS-D
By: Lopez of Cameron H.B. No. 3831
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the formation of a committee to conduct proceedings
relating to certain complaints and grievances submitted to the
board of trustees of an independent school district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.1511(b), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The board shall:
(1) seek to establish working relationships with other
public entities to make effective use of community resources and to
serve the needs of public school students in the community;
(2) adopt a vision statement and comprehensive goals
for the district and the superintendent and monitor progress toward
those goals;
(3) establish performance goals for the district
concerning:
(A) the academic and fiscal performance
indicators under Subchapters C, D, and J, Chapter 39; and
(B) any performance indicators adopted by the
district;
(4) ensure that the superintendent:
(A) is accountable for achieving performance
results;
(B) recognizes performance accomplishments; and
(C) takes action as necessary to meet performance
goals;
(5) adopt a policy to establish a district- and
campus-level planning and decision-making process as required
under Section 11.251;
(6) publish an annual educational performance report
as required under Section 39.306;
(7) adopt an annual budget for the district as
required under Section 44.004;
(8) adopt a tax rate each fiscal year as required under
Section 26.05, Tax Code;
(9) monitor district finances to ensure that the
superintendent is properly maintaining the district's financial
procedures and records;
(10) ensure that district fiscal accounts are audited
annually as required under Section 44.008;
(11) publish an end-of-year financial report for
distribution to the community;
(12) conduct elections as required by law;
(13) by rule, adopt a process regarding a complaint
through which district personnel, students or the parents or
guardians of students, and members of the public may obtain a
hearing from the district administrators and:
(A) the board; or
(B) a committee composed of board members formed
under Section 11.1711 [regarding a complaint];
(14) make decisions relating to terminating the
employment of district employees employed under a contract to which
Chapter 21 applies, including terminating or not renewing an
employment contract to which that chapter applies; and
(15) carry out other powers and duties as provided by
this code or other law.
SECTION 2. Section 11.1513(i), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(i) The employment policy must provide each school district
employee with the right to present grievances to:
(1) the district board of trustees; or
(2) a committee composed of members of the district
board of trustees.
SECTION 3. Section 11.171, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A school district grievance policy may permit the
investigation and proceedings regarding a reported grievance to be
conducted by a grievance and complaint committee formed under
Section 11.1711.
SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 11.1711 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.1711. GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT COMMITTEE. (a) The
board of trustees of a school district may form a grievance and
complaint committee, composed of members of the board of trustees,
to conduct hearings, investigations, and other proceedings
relating to grievances and complaints submitted to the board
pursuant to a process adopted under Section 11.1511(b)(13) and a
policy adopted under Section 11.171.
(b) The actions or decisions of a grievance and complaint
committee shall be considered the actions or decisions of the board
of trustees for purposes of an appeal under Section 7.057(a).
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act 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 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.