89R10952 AMF-D
By: Buckley H.B. No. 110
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Education Reform Task Force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "task force" means the
Texas Education Reform Task Force.
SECTION 2. TEXAS EDUCATION REFORM TASK FORCE. (a) The task
force is established to develop and make recommendations regarding
statutory reform of the Education Code and the public school
system.
(b) The task force consists of 13 members appointed as
follows:
(1) four members appointed by the governor;
(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives; and
(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as
designated by the chair of that board.
(c) The members appointed by the governor must have an
interest in public education and include at least:
(1) one current or retired classroom teacher with at
least 10 years of teaching experience;
(2) one member of the business community; and
(3) one member of the civic community.
(d) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the
speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of:
(1) three members of the applicable legislative
chamber; and
(2) an administrator in the public school system or an
elected member of the board of trustees of a school district.
(e) 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
membership of the task force reflects, to the extent possible, the
ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.
SECTION 3. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate
the presiding officer of the task force.
SECTION 4. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the
task force is not entitled to compensation for service on the task
force but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary
expenses incurred in performing task force duties.
SECTION 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The
Texas Education Agency shall provide administrative support for the
task force.
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the task force shall be provided by legislative appropriation
made to the Texas Education Agency for that purpose.
SECTION 6. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The task force shall
develop recommendations for statutory changes to address issues
related to the regulation of public education in this state,
including recommendations for changes that:
(1) promote efficiency;
(2) reduce regulatory burdens; and
(3) return focus to educational priorities.
(b) The task force may establish one or more working groups
composed of not more than five members of the task force to study,
discuss, and address specific statutory issues and recommendations
to refer to the task force for consideration.
SECTION 7. REPORT. Not later than August 31, 2026, the task
force shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the
legislature that contains recommendations for legislative action
to improve the Education Code and the provision of public education
in accordance with that code.
SECTION 8. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The
task force may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties
under this Act.
(b) The task force is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
SECTION 9. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The Texas
Education Agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any
source to support the task force.
SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTATION. The task force 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,
support the task force using other appropriations available for
that purpose.
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2025.