Bill Text: TX HB596 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the scheduling of the last day of school for students by public school districts.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-19 - Referred to Public Education [HB596 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB596-Introduced.html
  84R4860 MK-D
 
  By: Goldman H.B. No. 596
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the scheduling of the last day of school for students by
  public school districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 7.056(e), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), a school campus or
  district may not receive an exemption or waiver under this section
  from:
               (1)  a prohibition on conduct that constitutes a
  criminal offense;
               (2)  a requirement imposed by federal law or rule,
  including a requirement for special education or bilingual
  education programs; or
               (3)  a requirement, restriction, or prohibition
  relating to:
                     (A)  essential knowledge or skills under Section
  28.002 or high school graduation requirements under Section 28.025;
                     (B)  public school accountability as provided by
  Subchapters B, C, D, E, and J, Chapter 39;
                     (C)  extracurricular activities under Section
  33.081 or participation in a University Interscholastic League
  area, regional, or state competition under Section 33.0812;
                     (D)  health and safety under Chapter 38;
                     (E)  purchasing under Subchapter B, Chapter 44;
                     (F)  elementary school class size limits, except
  as provided by Section 25.112;
                     (G)  removal of a disruptive student from the
  classroom under Subchapter A, Chapter 37;
                     (H)  at-risk programs under Subchapter C, Chapter
  29;
                     (I)  prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E,
  Chapter 29;
                     (J)  educator rights and benefits under
  Subchapters A, C, D, E, F, G, and I, Chapter 21, or under Subchapter
  A, Chapter 22;
                     (K)  special education programs under Subchapter
  A, Chapter 29;
                     (L)  bilingual education programs under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 29; or
                     (M)  the requirements for the last [first] day of
  school [instruction] under Section 25.0812 [25.0811].
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.0812 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.0812.  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. (a) Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), a school district may not schedule the last day of
  school for students for a school year after the Friday preceding
  Memorial Day. 
         (b)  A school district may schedule the last day of school
  for students for a school year after the Friday preceding Memorial
  Day if the district operates a year-round system under Section
  25.084. 
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a school district that
  does not offer each grade level from kindergarten through grade 12
  and whose prospective or former students generally attend school in
  another state for the grade levels the district does not offer may
  schedule the last day of school on any date permitted under
  Subsection (a) or the law of the other state. 
         SECTION 3.  Section 25.084(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A school district may operate its schools year-round on
  either a single-track or a multitrack calendar. If a school
  district adopts a year-round system, the district may modify:
               (1)  the number of contract days of employees and the
  number of days of operation, including any time required for staff
  development, planning and preparation, and continuing education,
  otherwise required by law;
               (2)  testing dates, data reporting, and related
  matters;
               (3)  the date of the last [first] day of school for
  students for a [instruction of the] school year under Section
  25.0812 [25.0811] for a school that was operating year-round for
  the 2014-2015 [2000-2001] school year; and
               (4)  a student's eligibility to participate in
  extracurricular activities when the student's calendar track is not
  in session.
         SECTION 4.  Section 151.326(a), Tax Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The sale of an article of clothing or footwear designed
  to be worn on or about the human body is exempted from the taxes
  imposed by this chapter if:
               (1)  the sales price of the article is less than $100;
  and
               (2)  the sale takes place during a period beginning at
  12:01 a.m. on the second Friday of August [before the 15th day
  preceding the uniform date prescribed by Section 25.0811(a),
  Education Code, without regard to any exception authorized by that
  section, before which a school district may not begin instruction
  for the school year,] and ending at 12 midnight on the following
  Sunday.
         SECTION 5.  Section 25.0811, Education Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  This Act applies beginning with the 2016-2017
  school year.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect May 1, 2016.
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