Bill Text: TX HB384 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council to study and make recommendations concerning expanded learning opportunities for public school students.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-19 - Left pending in committee [HB384 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB384-Introduced.html
83R2147 CAS-F | ||
By: Strama | H.B. No. 384 |
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relating to the establishment of the Expanded Learning | ||
Opportunities Council to study and make recommendations concerning | ||
expanded learning opportunities for public school students. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter G to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER G. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL | ||
Sec. 33.251. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means | ||
the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council. | ||
Sec. 33.252. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. (a) | ||
Expanded learning opportunities may be provided during: | ||
(1) an extended school day; | ||
(2) an extended school year; or | ||
(3) structured learning programs outside of the | ||
regular school day, including before- and after-school programs and | ||
summer programs. | ||
(b) Expanded learning opportunities may be provided by | ||
offering: | ||
(1) rigorous coursework; | ||
(2) mentoring; | ||
(3) tutoring; | ||
(4) physical activity; | ||
(5) academic support; or | ||
(6) educational enrichment in one or more subjects, | ||
including fine arts, civic engagement, science, technology, | ||
engineering, and mathematics. | ||
Sec. 33.253. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Expanded | ||
Learning Opportunities Council is established to: | ||
(1) study issues concerning expanded learning | ||
opportunities for this state's public school students, including: | ||
(A) issues related to creating safe places for | ||
children outside of the regular school day, improving the academic | ||
success of students who participate in expanded learning | ||
opportunities programs, and assisting working families; and | ||
(B) other issues prescribed under Section | ||
33.259; and | ||
(2) make recommendations as provided by Section 33.260 | ||
to address issues studied under this subchapter. | ||
(b) In conducting studies under this subchapter, the | ||
council shall focus on innovative, hands-on learning approaches | ||
that complement rather than replicate the regular school | ||
curriculum. | ||
Sec. 33.254. SUNSET PROVISION. The council is subject to | ||
Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued | ||
in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is abolished | ||
and this subchapter expires September 1, 2025. | ||
Sec. 33.255. COMPOSITION. The council is composed of 10 | ||
members as follows: | ||
(1) two members of the senate, appointed by the | ||
lieutenant governor; | ||
(2) two members of the house of representatives, | ||
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; | ||
(3) two members of the public, including one | ||
representative of the business community and one parent of a public | ||
school student participating in an expanded learning opportunities | ||
program in this state, appointed by the governor; | ||
(4) two members who are involved in research-based | ||
expanded learning opportunities efforts in this state so that at | ||
least one is involved in efforts to extend the school day or school | ||
year and at least one is involved in efforts to provide an expanded | ||
learning opportunities program outside of the regular school day, | ||
appointed by the governor; | ||
(5) one representative of law enforcement, appointed | ||
by the governor; and | ||
(6) one member representing the agency, appointed by | ||
the commissioner. | ||
Sec. 33.256. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Members of the council | ||
serve two-year terms, with the terms expiring February 1 of each | ||
odd-numbered year. | ||
(b) A member of the council may be reappointed. | ||
(c) A vacancy on the council shall be filled for the | ||
remainder of the unexpired term in the manner as the appointment for | ||
that position is made under Section 33.255. | ||
(d) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of | ||
representatives shall appoint the presiding officer of the council | ||
on an alternating basis. The presiding officer shall serve a | ||
two-year term expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year. A | ||
vacancy in the office of presiding officer shall be filled for the | ||
remainder of the unexpired term by the lieutenant governor or | ||
speaker, whichever official appointed the most recent presiding | ||
officer. | ||
Sec. 33.257. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet in | ||
person at least three times each year and may hold additional | ||
meetings by conference call if necessary. | ||
(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting | ||
held by conference call under this section, except that Section | ||
551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply. | ||
Sec. 33.258. COMPENSATION. A member of the council may not | ||
receive compensation for service on the council. | ||
Sec. 33.259. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The council shall: | ||
(1) study issues related to expanded learning | ||
opportunities for public school students; | ||
(2) study current research and best practices related | ||
to meaningful expanded learning opportunities; | ||
(3) analyze the availability of and unmet needs for | ||
state and local programs for expanded learning opportunities for | ||
public school students; | ||
(4) analyze opportunities to create incentives for | ||
businesses to support expanded learning opportunities programs for | ||
public school students; | ||
(5) analyze opportunities to maximize charitable | ||
support for public and private partnerships for expanded learning | ||
opportunities programs for public school students; | ||
(6) analyze opportunities to promote science, | ||
technology, engineering, and mathematics in expanded learning | ||
opportunities programs for public school students; and | ||
(7) perform other duties consistent with this | ||
subchapter. | ||
(b) In carrying out its powers and duties under this | ||
section, the council may request reports and other information | ||
relating to expanded learning opportunities and students in | ||
expanded learning opportunities programs from the Texas Education | ||
Agency and any other state agency. | ||
Sec. 33.260. STATEWIDE EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES | ||
PLAN; REPORT. (a) The council shall develop a comprehensive | ||
statewide action plan for the improvement of expanded learning | ||
opportunities for public school students in this state, including a | ||
timeline for implementation of the plan. | ||
(b) The council shall submit to both houses of the | ||
legislature, the governor, and the agency on or before November 1 of | ||
each even-numbered year a written report concerning: | ||
(1) the status of the development or implementation of | ||
the council's statewide action plan, as applicable; | ||
(2) any action taken to further development or | ||
implementation of the plan; | ||
(3) any area that needs improvement in implementing | ||
the plan; | ||
(4) any recommended change to the plan; and | ||
(5) programs and services that address expanded | ||
learning opportunities outside of the regular school day. | ||
Sec. 33.261. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The agency may | ||
accept on behalf of the council a gift, grant, or donation from any | ||
source to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) The Expanded Learning Opportunities Council | ||
shall submit the initial report required under Subchapter G, | ||
Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than | ||
November 1, 2016. | ||
(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this | ||
Act, the designated officials shall appoint the members of the | ||
Expanded Learning Opportunities Council under Subchapter G, | ||
Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. 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, 2013. |