89R10067 BCH-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 3373
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision by school districts of certain records
and financial information to the public.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 44, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 44.906 to read as follows:
Sec. 44.906. TRANSPARENCY OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; ONLINE
PORTAL. (a) For the purpose of streamlining and minimizing
requests for public information and reducing the associated costs
of fulfilling those requests, a school district shall establish,
maintain, and update regularly on the district's Internet website a
publicly accessible online portal developed in a user-friendly
format that allows a person to access a repository of critical
documents relating to the district's operations in real time
through interactive dashboards and data visualization tools.
(b) The online portal must be searchable and allow a person
to specify the records sought, including by keywords, date ranges,
and document types.
(c) The repository of critical documents must include:
(1) a copy of each contract and consulting agreement
entered into by the district, including:
(A) procurement records required by state law;
(B) the total value of the contract;
(C) change orders;
(D) payment applications;
(E) project timelines;
(F) conflict of interest disclosures;
(G) information regarding the selection process
for the contractor or consultant, as applicable; and
(H) any other key construction documents;
(2) a disclosure of the district's investment
policies, including information regarding:
(A) investment objectives;
(B) risk tolerance;
(C) diversification strategies; and
(D) fee structures;
(3) regular performance reports on the district's
investment portfolio, including information regarding:
(A) returns;
(B) fees paid;
(C) benchmark comparisons; and
(D) any company that employs a person involved in
buying, selling, or trading district bonds;
(4) the minutes, certified agenda, or recording, as
applicable, of each regular or special meeting of the district's
board of trustees, including a document in a portable document
format (PDF) of each agenda item, if available; and
(5) the district's financial reports.
(d) Not later than 30 days after the date a school district
creates, receives, or modifies a document described by Subsection
(c), the district shall update the repository of critical documents
accordingly.
SECTION 2. 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.