Training Bill Lets Local Officials Skip Continuing Education Entirely

The text as introduced · 1,143 words

89R4881 SCL-F

By: Leo Wilson
H.B. No. 1588

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to training requirements for certain public officials and

candidates for public office.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 11.159(c-1) and (d), Education Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(c-1) The agency shall, for the training required by

Subsection (c)(1) :

(1) provide the training; and

(2) certify the completion of the training by a

trustee or candidate for trustee [ must be research-based and

designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees

under Section 11.1515 ].

(d) A trustee or candidate for trustee may complete training

required under Subsection (c) at a regional education service

center [ or through another authorized provider. A provider must

certify the completion of the training by a trustee or candidate ].

SECTION 2. Section 74.025, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 74.025. EDUCATION PROGRAMS. The court of criminal

appeals shall, if adequate funding is available for education

programs for judges and court personnel, ensure that adequate

education programs are available through an institution of higher

education or the State Bar of Texas on an equitable basis for judges

and court personnel of courts created under the constitution and

laws of this state.

SECTION 3. Sections 418.005(d) and (e), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(d) The division may provide the training and may also

approve any acceptable course of training provided [ offered ] by a

governmental body [ or other entity ]. The division shall ensure

that at least one course of training approved or provided by the

division is available on videotape or a functionally similar and

widely available medium at no cost.

(e) The division or governmental body [ other entity ]

providing the training shall provide a certificate of course

completion to a person who completes the training required by this

section. A person who completes the training required by this

section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the

record of the person's completion of the training.

SECTION 4. Sections 551.005(b) and (c), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(b) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is

made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the

training and may also approve any acceptable course of training

offered by a governmental body [ or other entity ]. The attorney

general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved

or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a

functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The

training must include instruction in:

(1) the general background of the legal requirements

for open meetings;

(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental

bodies;

(3) procedures and requirements regarding quorums,

notice, and recordkeeping under this chapter;

(4) procedures and requirements for holding an open

meeting and for holding a closed meeting under this chapter; and

(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to

comply with this chapter.

(c) The office of the attorney general or other governmental

body [ entity ] providing the training shall provide a certificate of

course completion to persons who complete the training required by

this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make

available for public inspection the record of its members'

completion of the training.

SECTION 5. Sections 552.012(d) and (e), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(d) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is

made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the

training and may also approve any acceptable course of training

offered by a governmental body [ or other entity ]. The attorney

general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved

or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a

functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The

training must include instruction in:

(1) the general background of the legal requirements

for open records and public information;

(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental

bodies;

(3) procedures and requirements regarding complying

with a request for information under this chapter;

(4) the role of the attorney general under this

chapter; and

(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to

comply with this chapter.

(e) The office of the attorney general or other governmental

body [ entity ] providing the training shall provide a certificate of

course completion to persons who complete the training required by

this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make

available for public inspection the record of its public officials'

or, if applicable, the public information coordinator's completion

of the training.

SECTION 6. Section 2054.519(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) To be certified under Subsection (a), a cybersecurity

training program must:

(1) focus on forming information security habits and

procedures that protect information resources; [ and ]

(2) teach best practices for detecting, assessing,

reporting, and addressing information security threats ; and

(3) be provided by a state agency or local government .

SECTION 7. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 180.011. OFFICER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING

REQUIREMENTS. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the

governing body of a municipality, a member of a school board, an

elected county officer, or an individual appointed to fill a

vacancy in an elective county office is not required to attend or

complete any continuing education training required for the office.

SECTION 8. Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended to read as

follows:

(c) Continuing education required by this section must be :

(1) approved by the comptroller; and

(2) provided by the comptroller [ a state agency ] or an

accredited institution of higher education, including an

institution that is a part of or associated with an accredited

institution of higher education, such as the V. G. Young Institute

of County Government.

SECTION 9. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Section 418.005(g), Government Code;

(2) Section 2054.519(c), Government Code;

(3) Section 81.0025, Local Government Code;

(4) Section 83.003, Local Government Code; and

(5) Section 84.0085, Local Government Code.

SECTION 10. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the State Board of Education shall modify all rules

that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 11. Sections 11.159, Education Code, 418.005,

551.005, 552.012, and 2054.519, Government Code, and 6.231, Tax

Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to training conducted on or

after the effective date of this Act. Training conducted before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect

immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.