88R10220 BDP-F
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 2114
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the office of independent
  ombudsman for the Texas Education Agency.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 7.057(e), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  a case to which Subchapter G, Chapter 21, applies;
               (2)  a complaint authorized to be filed with the
  independent ombudsman under Chapter 26A; or
               (3) [(2)]  a student disciplinary action under Chapter
  37.
         SECTION 2.  Section 26.002, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 26.002.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "parent" means a
  person who is a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory
  conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal
  authority to act on behalf of a child [includes a person standing in
  parental relation].  The term does not include a person as to whom
  the parent-child relationship has been terminated or a person not
  entitled to possession of or access to a child under a court order.  
  Except as provided by federal law, all rights of a parent under
  Title 2 of this code and all educational rights under Section
  151.001(a)(10), Family Code, shall be exercised by a student who is
  18 years of age or older or whose disabilities of minority have been
  removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code, unless
  the student has been determined to be incompetent or the student's
  rights have been otherwise restricted by a court order.
         SECTION 3.  Section 26.011, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 26.011.  COMPLAINTS.  A [(a)  The board of trustees of
  each school district shall adopt a grievance procedure under which
  the board shall address each] complaint [that the board receives]
  concerning violation of a right guaranteed by this chapter must be
  filed with the independent ombudsman under Chapter 26A.
         [(b)  The board of trustees of a school district is not
  required by Subsection (a) or Section 11.1511(b)(13) to address a
  complaint that the board receives concerning a student's
  participation in an extracurricular activity that does not involve
  a violation of a right guaranteed by this chapter.  This subsection
  does not affect a claim brought by a parent under the Individuals
  with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.) or
  a successor federal statute addressing special education services
  for a child with a disability.]
         SECTION 4.  Subtitle E, Title 2, Education Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 26A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 26A. INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 26A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 
               (1)  "Independent ombudsman" means the individual who
  has been appointed under this chapter to the office of independent
  ombudsman.
               (2)  "Office" means the office of independent ombudsman
  established under this chapter.
               (3)  "Parent" has the meaning assigned by Section
  26.002.
         Sec. 26A.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.  The office of
  independent ombudsman is established for the purpose of securing
  the rights of parents guaranteed by Chapter 26.
         Sec. 26A.003.  ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT; SUPPORT; BUDGET.  
  (a)  The office is administratively attached to the agency and may
  collaborate with the agency for the purpose of sharing subject
  matter expertise.
         (b)  The agency shall provide administrative support and
  resources, including administrative personnel, to the office as
  necessary for the office to perform its duties.
         (c)  The office, in accordance with the rules and procedures
  of the Legislative Budget Board, shall prepare, approve, and submit
  a legislative appropriations request that is separate from  the
  legislative appropriations request for the agency and is used to
  develop the office's budget structure.  The office shall maintain
  the legislative appropriations request and budget structure
  separately from those of the agency.
         Sec. 26A.004.  INDEPENDENCE.  The independent ombudsman in
  the performance of its duties and powers under this chapter acts
  independently of the agency.
  SUBCHAPTER B. APPOINTMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF OFFICE
         Sec. 26A.051.  APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN. (a)  
  The governor shall appoint the independent ombudsman for a term of
  two years, expiring February 1 of odd-numbered years.
         (b)  A person appointed as independent ombudsman is eligible
  for reappointment.
         Sec. 26A.052.  ASSISTANTS. The independent ombudsman may
  hire assistants to perform, under the direction of the independent
  ombudsman, the same duties and exercise the same powers as the
  independent ombudsman.
         Sec. 26A.053.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) A person may not
  serve as independent ombudsman or as an assistant to the
  independent ombudsman if the person or the person's spouse:
               (1)  is employed by or participates in the management
  of a business entity or other organization receiving funds from the
  agency or a school district;
               (2)  owns or controls, directly or indirectly, any
  interest in a business entity or other organization receiving funds
  from the agency or a school district; or
               (3)  uses or receives any amount of tangible goods,
  services, or funds from a school district.
         (b)  A person may not serve as independent ombudsman or as an
  assistant to the independent ombudsman if the person or the
  person's spouse is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter
  305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for
  compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of
  the agency or a school district.
         (c)  A person may not serve as independent ombudsman or as an
  assistant to the independent ombudsman if the person or the
  person's spouse is an officer, employee, manager, or paid
  consultant of a school district.
         Sec. 26A.054.  COMPLAINTS. (a)  The office shall maintain a
  system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the
  office that relate to the operations or staff of the office.  The
  office shall maintain information about parties to the complaint,
  the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the
  review or investigation of the complaint, and the disposition of
  the complaint.
         (b)  The office shall make information available describing
  its procedures for complaint investigation and resolution.
         (c)  The office shall periodically notify the complaint
  parties of the status of the complaint until final disposition.
         Sec. 26A.055.  REPORT. (a)  The independent ombudsman shall
  submit on a quarterly basis to the commissioner, the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, the state auditor, and each member of the
  legislature a report that describes:
               (1)  the work of the independent ombudsman;
               (2)  the results of any review or investigation
  undertaken by the independent ombudsman; and
               (3)  any recommendations that the independent
  ombudsman has in relation to the duties of the independent
  ombudsman.
         (b)  The independent ombudsman shall immediately report to
  the commissioner, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and the state auditor any
  particularly serious or flagrant:
               (1)  violation of parental rights under Chapter 26; or
               (2)  interference by the agency with an investigation
  conducted by the office.
         Sec. 26A.056.  REVIEW AND FORMAT OF REPORTS. (a)  The office
  shall accept, both before and after publication, comments from the
  commissioner concerning the following types of reports published by
  the office under this chapter:
               (1)  the office's quarterly report under Section
  26A.055(a);
               (2)  reports concerning serious or flagrant
  circumstances under Section 26A.055(b); and 
               (3)  any other formal reports containing findings and
  making recommendations concerning systemic issues that affect the
  agency.
         (b)  The commissioner may not submit comments under
  Subsection (a) after the 30th day after the date the report on which
  the commissioner is commenting is published. 
         (c)  The office shall ensure that reports described by
  Subsection (a) are in a format to which the commissioner can easily
  respond.
         (d)  After receipt of comments under this section, the office
  is not obligated to change any report or change the manner in which
  the office performs the duties of the office.
         Sec. 26A.057.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. (a)  The office by rule
  shall establish policies and procedures for the operations of the
  office.
         (b)  The office and the commissioner shall adopt rules
  necessary to implement Section 26A.056 including rules that
  establish procedures for the agency to review and comment on
  reports of the office and for the agency to expedite or eliminate
  review of and comment on a report due to an emergency or a serious or
  flagrant circumstance described by Section 26A.055(b).
         Sec. 26A.058.  CONFIDENTIALITY. (a)  The records of the
  independent ombudsman are confidential.
         (b)  The independent ombudsman may make reports relating to
  an investigation public after the investigation is complete but
  only if the names of all children, parents, and employees are
  redacted from the report and remain confidential. 
         (c)  During the pendency of an investigation under this
  chapter, the office is not required to disclose the identity of any
  witness.
         (d)  Unless otherwise provided by law, all evidence
  collected by the office in connection with an investigation,
  including witness statements and videos of interviews, are
  confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
  Government Code, except that evidence described by this section may
  be disclosed:
               (1)  to a person with a legitimate interest in the
  investigation; or
               (2)  in connection with an administrative or other
  legal proceeding brought under this title.
         Sec. 26A.059.  SUNSET PROVISION. The office is subject to
  review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but
  is not abolished under that chapter. The office shall be reviewed
  during the periods in which the agency or its successor agency is
  reviewed.
         Sec. 26A.060.  AUTHORITY OF STATE AUDITOR. The office is
  subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter
  321, Government Code.
         Sec. 26A.061.  PROMOTION OF AWARENESS OF OFFICE. The
  independent ombudsman shall promote awareness among the public and
  parents of children enrolled in a school district regarding:
               (1)  how the office may be contacted;
               (2)  the purpose of the office; and
               (3)  the services the office provides.
  SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES AND POWERS
         Sec. 26A.101.  DUTIES AND POWERS. (a)  The independent
  ombudsman shall:
               (1)  review and, if necessary, investigate:
                     (A)  complaints alleging a violation of parental
  rights under Chapter 26; and
                     (B)  any other complaints authorized under other
  law to be filed with the independent ombudsman; and
               (2)  for any complaint received other than a complaint
  described by Subdivision (1), refer the complainant to the
  appropriate entity.
         (b)  To assess if a parent's rights under Chapter 26 have
  been violated, the independent ombudsman, in the course of its
  investigation or to secure information, may contact or consult
  with:
               (1)  the board of trustees, an administrator, or an
  employee of a school district;
               (2)  a child;
               (3)  a parent;
               (4)  an expert; or
               (5)  any other individual.
         Sec. 26A.102.  HEARING FOLLOWING DISPOSITION OF COMPLAINT.
  (a)  Not later than the 15th day after the date on which the
  independent ombudsman finally disposes of a complaint alleging a
  violation of parental rights under Chapter 26, the school district
  or the person who filed the complaint may request a hearing if the
  district or person disagrees with the disposition of the complaint.
         (b)  If a hearing is requested under Subsection (a), the
  hearing shall be conducted by the State Office of Administrative
  Hearings.
         (c)  A hearing conducted under this section is a contested
  case under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
         (d)  The administrative law judge who conducts a hearing
  under this section shall enter the final decision on the complaint
  after completion of the hearing.
         Sec. 26A.103.  SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION FOLLOWING DISPOSITION
  OF COMPLAINT. Following the independent ombudsman's final
  disposition of a complaint alleging a violation of parental rights
  under Chapter 26, the school district against which the complaint
  was filed shall take any action:
               (1)  if the district did not request a hearing under
  Section 26A.102, required by the independent ombudsman in relation
  to the complaint; or
               (2)  if the district requested a hearing under Section
  26A.102, necessary to comply with the administrative law judge's
  final decision on the complaint.
         Sec. 26A.104.  TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES WHO COOPERATE WITH
  INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN. The agency or a school district may not
  discriminate or retaliate against an employee who in good faith
  cooperates with the office in an investigation.
         Sec. 26A.105.  TRAINING. The independent ombudsman may
  participate in any appropriate professional training.
  SUBCHAPTER D. ACCESS TO INFORMATION
         Sec. 26A.151.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION OF GOVERNMENTAL
  ENTITIES. (a)  The independent ombudsman has access to the agency's
  records relating to a parent, a child, or a complaint filed with the
  independent ombudsman under this chapter.
         (b)  A school district shall allow the independent ombudsman
  access to the district's records relating to a complaint with the
  independent ombudsman under this chapter.
         Sec. 26A.152.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION OF PRIVATE ENTITIES. A
  private entity that possesses records relating to a complaint filed
  with the independent ombudsman under this chapter shall provide
  access to those records to the independent ombudsman.
         SECTION 5.  Section 28.004(i-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (i-1)  A parent may file [use the grievance procedure adopted
  under Section 26.011 concerning] a complaint concerning [of] a
  violation of this section with the independent ombudsman under
  Chapter 26A.
         SECTION 6.  Section 28.017(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  If a school district does not comply with the
  requirements of Subsection (c), a parent of a student enrolled in
  the district may file a complaint with the independent ombudsman
  [in accordance with the district's grievance procedure developed]
  under Chapter 26A [Section 26.011].
         SECTION 7.  Section 28.0211(f-3), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f-3)  A [The board of trustees of each school district shall
  adopt a policy consistent with the grievance procedure adopted
  under Section 26.011 to allow a] parent may file a complaint with
  the independent ombudsman under Chapter 26A to contest the content
  or implementation of an educational plan developed under Subsection
  (f).
         SECTION 8.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the governor shall appoint an initial independent
  ombudsman under Chapter 26A, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  to a term expiring February 1, 2025.
         SECTION 9.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a complaint filed with a school district or an appeal filed with the
  commissioner of education on or after January 1, 2024. A complaint
  or appeal filed before January 1, 2024, is governed by the law in
  effect on the date the complaint or appeal was filed, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.