Buckley Bill Adds A 13-Member Panel To Recommend Fewer Regulations

The text as introduced · 680 words

89R10952 AMF-D

By: Buckley
H.B. No. 110

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Education Reform Task Force.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "task force" means the

Texas Education Reform Task Force.

SECTION 2. TEXAS EDUCATION REFORM TASK FORCE. (a) The task

force is established to develop and make recommendations regarding

statutory reform of the Education Code and the public school

system.

(b) The task force consists of 13 members appointed as

follows:

(1) four members appointed by the governor;

(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house

of representatives; and

(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as

designated by the chair of that board.

(c) The members appointed by the governor must have an

interest in public education and include at least:

(1) one current or retired classroom teacher with at

least 10 years of teaching experience;

(2) one member of the business community; and

(3) one member of the civic community.

(d) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the

speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of:

(1) three members of the applicable legislative

chamber; and

(2) an administrator in the public school system or an

elected member of the board of trustees of a school district.

(e) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),

and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the

house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the

membership of the task force reflects, to the extent possible, the

ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.

SECTION 3. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate

the presiding officer of the task force.

SECTION 4. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the

task force is not entitled to compensation for service on the task

force but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary

expenses incurred in performing task force duties.

SECTION 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The

Texas Education Agency shall provide administrative support for the

task force.

(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses

of the task force shall be provided by legislative appropriation

made to the Texas Education Agency for that purpose.

SECTION 6. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The task force shall

develop recommendations for statutory changes to address issues

related to the regulation of public education in this state,

including recommendations for changes that:

(1) promote efficiency;

(2) reduce regulatory burdens; and

(3) return focus to educational priorities.

(b) The task force may establish one or more working groups

composed of not more than five members of the task force to study,

discuss, and address specific statutory issues and recommendations

to refer to the task force for consideration.

SECTION 7. REPORT. Not later than August 31, 2026, the task

force shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the

legislature that contains recommendations for legislative action

to improve the Education Code and the provision of public education

in accordance with that code.

SECTION 8. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The

task force may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties

under this Act.

(b) The task force is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,

Government Code.

SECTION 9. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The Texas

Education Agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any

source to support the task force.

SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTATION. The task force is required to

implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature

appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the

legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that

purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to,

support the task force using other appropriations available for

that purpose.

SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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.