Lalani Bill Requires Three Public Meetings Before Closing A Campus

The text as introduced · 592 words

90R4363 AMF-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 432

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures for the closure of a school district campus

or consolidation of a school district campus with another district

campus by the district's board of trustees.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 11.172 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.172. CLOSURE OR CONSOLIDATION OF CAMPUS. (a)

Before the board of trustees of a school district orders the closure

of a district campus or consolidation of a district campus with

another district campus, the board must provide notice and

opportunities for public comment as provided by this section.

(b) For each campus the board of trustees of the school

district proposes to close or consolidate with another district

campus, the board shall hold at least three public meetings at which

the board discusses the closure or consolidation. Each meeting

must be open to the public and include an opportunity for public

comment. At least two of the meetings held under this subsection

must be held at or near the affected campus, as practicable.

(c) At least seven days before the date of the first meeting

required by Subsection (b), the board of trustees of the school

district shall post on the district's Internet website a campus

closure or consolidation impact statement for each campus the board

proposes closing or consolidating with another district campus that

includes for each affected campus:

(1) an explanation of the reasons for the proposed

closure or consolidation; and

(2) information regarding:

(A) enrollment and utilization trends at the

campus;

(B) facility conditions at the campus;

(C) projected savings and transition costs

resulting from the proposed closure or consolidation;

(D) the capacity of other district campuses to

receive displaced students;

(E) the effects of the proposed closure or

consolidation on student transportation and walkability;

(F) student programs that would be affected by

the proposed closure or consolidation;

(G) recent improvements funded by a bond issued

by the district or planned improvements intended to be funded by a

bond issued by the district at the campus; and

(H) any alternatives to closure or consolidation

considered.

(d) At least seven days before the date of each meeting

required by Subsection (b), the board of trustees of the school

district shall provide notice of the meeting to:

(1) the parents of or persons standing in parental

relation to each student enrolled in the district; and

(2) district employees.

(e) The board of trustees of a school district may not vote

to close a campus or consolidate a campus with another district

campus at a meeting required by Subsection (b). A vote on the

closure or consolidation must be a record vote and may not be

combined with any other vote.

(f) This section does not apply to the closure of a school

district campus in an emergency or by commissioner order under

Chapter 39A.

SECTION 2. Section 11.172, Education Code, as added by this

Act, applies only to the closure of a school district campus or the

consolidation of a school district campus with another district

campus that is ordered on or after the effective date of 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, 2027.