BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1553

By: Lozano

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties see a benefit in permitting a public school district that has failed to satisfy performance standards to partner with a public institution of higher education to improve district performance. H.B. 1553 seeks to achieve this benefit by authorizing such a partnership under certain circumstances.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1553 amends the Education Code to include authorizing a public school district to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a public institution of higher education that provides for the assistance of the institution in improving the district's performance among the possible acts of intervention or sanction to be taken by the commissioner of education when a district does not satisfy public school system accountability accreditation criteria, academic performance standards, or any financial accountability standard as determined by commissioner rule or when the commissioner considers action appropriate on the basis of a special accreditation investigation. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.