Bill Text: TX HB355 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate class size limits in public schools.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-12 - Referred to Public Education [HB355 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB355-Introduced.html
| 84R2038 KKA-D | ||
| By: González | H.B. No. 355 | |
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| relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate class size | ||
| limits in public schools. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 25, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 25.116 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 25.116. TASK FORCE ON CLASS SIZE LIMITS. (a) A task | ||
| force is established under this section to evaluate class size | ||
| limits applicable under Section 25.112 to kindergarten through | ||
| fourth grade classes and determine whether similar limits should be | ||
| imposed on classes at grade levels five through eight. | ||
| (b) The task force shall be composed of members appointed by | ||
| the commissioner. In making appointments, the commissioner shall | ||
| ensure that the task force includes teachers, school principals or | ||
| other school administrators, superintendents or other central | ||
| office administrators, representatives of the agency, and other | ||
| interested persons. | ||
| (c) A representative of the agency designated by the | ||
| commissioner shall serve as the presiding officer of the task | ||
| force. | ||
| (d) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the task | ||
| force not later than December 1, 2015. | ||
| (e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of | ||
| the task force on or before January 1, 2016. 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. | ||
| (f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the | ||
| task force. | ||
| (g) The task force shall evaluate: | ||
| (1) the effect of class sizes on student achievement, | ||
| including students enrolled in regular education programs, | ||
| students enrolled in special education programs under Subchapter A, | ||
| Chapter 29, students enrolled in bilingual education and special | ||
| language programs under Subchapter B, Chapter 29, and students who | ||
| are educationally disadvantaged; and | ||
| (2) the potential financial effect of imposing class | ||
| size limits on classes at grade levels five through eight on: | ||
| (A) school districts; | ||
| (B) the agency; and | ||
| (C) the state budget. | ||
| (h) The task force shall prepare a report that includes: | ||
| (1) a description of the activities of the task force; | ||
| (2) the findings and recommendations of the task | ||
| force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and | ||
| (3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the | ||
| task force considers appropriate. | ||
| (i) Not later than September 1, 2017, the task force shall | ||
| deliver the report required by Subsection (h) to the governor, the | ||
| lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, | ||
| and the chair of the State Board of Education. | ||
| (j) The task force is abolished and this section expires | ||
| December 1, 2017. | ||
| 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, 2015. | ||
