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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Expanded Learning |
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Opportunities Council to study and make recommendations concerning |
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expanded learning opportunities for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL |
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Sec. 33.251. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means |
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the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council. |
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Sec. 33.252. EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. |
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(a) Expanded learning opportunities may be provided during: |
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(1) an extended school day; |
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(2) an extended school year; or |
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(3) structured learning programs outside of the |
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regular school day, including before- and after-school programs and |
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summer programs. |
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(b) Expanded learning opportunities may be provided by |
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offering: |
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(1) rigorous coursework; |
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(2) mentoring; |
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(3) tutoring; |
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(4) physical activity; |
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(5) academic support; or |
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(6) educational enrichment in one or more subjects, |
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including fine arts, civic engagement, science, technology, |
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engineering, and mathematics. |
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Sec. 33.253. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Expanded |
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Learning Opportunities Council is established to: |
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(1) study issues concerning expanded learning |
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opportunities for this state's public school students, including: |
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(A) issues related to creating safe places for |
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children outside of the regular school day, improving the academic |
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success of students who participate in expanded learning |
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opportunities programs, and assisting working families; and |
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(B) other issues prescribed under Section |
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33.258; and |
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(2) make recommendations as provided by Section 33.259 |
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to address issues studied under this subchapter. |
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(b) In conducting studies under this subchapter, the |
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council shall focus on innovative, hands-on learning approaches |
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that complement rather than replicate the regular school |
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curriculum. |
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Sec. 33.254. SUNSET PROVISION. The council is subject to |
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Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued |
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in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is abolished |
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and this subchapter expires September 1, 2017. |
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Sec. 33.255. COMPOSITION. The council is composed of 13 |
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members appointed by the commissioner as follows: |
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(1) two members of the public, including one |
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representing the business community and one parent of a public |
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school student participating in an expanded learning opportunities |
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program in this state; |
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(2) two members who are involved in research-based |
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expanded learning opportunities efforts in this state so that at |
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least one is involved in efforts to extend the school day or school |
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year and at least one is involved in efforts to provide out of |
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school time before or after the regular school day or during the |
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period in which school is recessed for the summer; |
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(3) one member representing law enforcement; |
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(4) one member representing the agency; |
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(5) one member who is an educator, other than a |
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superintendent, at the elementary school level; |
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(6) one member who is an educator, other than a |
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superintendent, at the middle or junior high school level; |
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(7) one member who is an educator, other than a |
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superintendent, at the high school level; |
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(8) one member who is a public school superintendent; |
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(9) one member representing a foundation that invests |
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in expanded learning opportunities; |
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(10) one member representing a nonprofit organization |
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that provides programs concerning good nutrition and prevention of |
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or intervention to address childhood obesity; and |
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(11) one member who is a provider representing summer |
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camps. |
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Sec. 33.256. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet in |
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person at least three times each year and may hold additional |
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meetings by conference call if necessary. |
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(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting |
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held by conference call under this section, except that Section |
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551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply. |
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Sec. 33.257. COMPENSATION. A member of the council may not |
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receive compensation for service on the council. |
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Sec. 33.258. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The council shall: |
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(1) study issues related to expanded learning |
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opportunities for public school students; |
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(2) study current research and best practices related |
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to meaningful expanded learning opportunities; |
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(3) analyze the availability of and unmet needs for |
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state and local programs for expanded learning opportunities for |
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public school students; |
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(4) analyze opportunities to create incentives for |
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businesses to support expanded learning opportunities programs for |
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public school students; |
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(5) analyze opportunities to maximize charitable |
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support for public and private partnerships for expanded learning |
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opportunities programs for public school students; |
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(6) analyze opportunities to promote science, |
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technology, engineering, and mathematics in expanded learning |
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opportunities programs for public school students; |
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(7) study the future workforce needs of this state's |
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businesses and other employers; and |
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(8) perform other duties consistent with this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) In carrying out its powers and duties under this |
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section, the council may request reports and other information |
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relating to expanded learning opportunities and students in |
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expanded learning opportunities programs from the Texas Education |
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Agency and any other state agency. |
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Sec. 33.259. STATEWIDE EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES |
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PLAN; REPORT. (a) The council shall develop a comprehensive |
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statewide action plan for the improvement of expanded learning |
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opportunities for public school students in this state, including a |
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timeline for implementation of the plan. |
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(b) The council shall submit to both houses of the |
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legislature, the governor, and the agency on or before November 1 of |
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each even-numbered year a written report concerning: |
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(1) the status of the development or implementation of |
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the council's statewide action plan, as applicable; |
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(2) any action taken to further development or |
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implementation of the plan; |
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(3) any area that needs improvement in implementing |
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the plan; |
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(4) any recommended change to the plan; and |
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(5) programs and services that address expanded |
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learning opportunities outside of the regular school day. |
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Sec. 33.260. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The agency may |
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accept on behalf of the council a gift, grant, or donation from any |
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source to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Expanded Learning Opportunities |
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Council shall submit the initial report required under Subchapter |
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G, Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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November 1, 2014. |
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(b) Not later than December 31, 2013, the commissioner of |
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education shall appoint the members of the Expanded Learning |
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Opportunities Council under Subchapter G, Chapter 33, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 503 passed the Senate on |
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April 18, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that |
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the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 22, 2013, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 503 passed the House, with |
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amendment, on May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 125, |
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Nays 9, two present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |