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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to informal methods of seeking resolution to grievances or |
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complaints of school district employees or parents of school |
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district students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.171, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) A school district grievance policy: |
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(1) may not require a school district employee to seek |
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resolution of the employee's grievance through an informal method |
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before seeking resolution through formal methods prescribed under |
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the grievance policy; and |
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(2) must provide that any time limits applicable to |
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the resolution of a grievance through formal methods prescribed |
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under the grievance policy are tolled while an employee is actively |
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seeking resolution of the employee's grievance through an informal |
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method. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.011, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.011. COMPLAINTS. (a) The board of trustees of each |
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school district shall adopt a grievance procedure under which the |
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board shall address each complaint that the board receives |
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concerning violation of a right guaranteed by this chapter. |
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(b) A grievance procedure under this section: |
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(1) may not require a parent to seek resolution of the |
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parent's complaint through an informal method before seeking |
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resolution through formal methods prescribed under the grievance |
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procedure; and |
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(2) must provide that any time limits applicable to |
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the resolution of a complaint through formal methods prescribed |
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under the grievance procedure are tolled while a parent is actively |
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seeking resolution of the parent's complaint through an informal |
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method. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections |
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11.171 and 26.011, Education Code, apply only to a grievance or |
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complaint reported on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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grievance or complaint reported before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect when the grievance or complaint |
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is reported, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |