By: Hegar, Patrick  S.B. No. 1298
         (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2013; March 13, 2013, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 15, 2013,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 3; April 15, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1298 By:  Duncan
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the provision of electronic courses in public schools,
  the state virtual school network, and school district digital
  capabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (b), (c), and (d), Section 26.0031,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school in
  which a student is enrolled as a full-time student may not
  [unreasonably] deny the request of a parent of a student to enroll
  the student in an electronic course offered through the state
  virtual school network under Chapter 30A.
         (c)  Notwithstanding [For purposes of] Subsection (b), a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school may deny [is not
  considered to have unreasonably denied] a request to enroll a
  student in an electronic course if:
               (1)  the district or school can demonstrate that the
  course does not meet state standards or standards of the district or
  school that are of equivalent rigor as the district's or school's
  standards for the same course provided in a traditional classroom
  setting; or
               (2)  [a student attempts to enroll in a course load
  that:
                     [(A)     is inconsistent with the student's high
  school graduation plan; or
                     [(B)     could reasonably be expected to negatively
  affect the student's performance on an assessment instrument
  administered under Section 39.023; or
               [(3)]  the student requests permission to enroll in an
  electronic course at a time that is not consistent with the
  enrollment period established by the school district or
  open-enrollment charter school providing the course.
         (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c) [(c)(3)], a school
  district or open-enrollment charter school that provides an
  electronic course through the state virtual school network under
  Chapter 30A shall make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the
  enrollment of a student in the course under special circumstances.
         SECTION 2.  Section 30A.001, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (3-a) and amending Subdivisions (7) and (8) to
  read as follows:
               (3-a)  "Electronic catalogue course" means an
  electronic course offered by an electronic catalogue course
  provider through the state virtual school network to students
  enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter school.
               (7)  "Electronic catalogue course provider" ["Provider
  school district or school"] means:
                     (A)  a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school that provides an electronic course through the state virtual
  school network to:
                           (i)  students enrolled in that district or
  school; or
                           (ii)  students enrolled in another school
  district or school; [or]
                     (B)  a public or private institution of higher
  education, nonprofit entity, or private entity that provides a
  course through the state virtual school network;
                     (C)  an entity that provides an electronic
  professional development course through the state virtual school
  network; or
                     (D)  a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school that provides a full-time virtual instruction program
  through the state virtual school network.
               (8)  "Public or private institution of higher
  education" means[:
                     [(A)]  an institution of higher education, as
  defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 1001 [Section 61.003; or
                     [(B)     a private or independent institution of
  higher education, as defined by Section 61.003].
         SECTION 3.  Subsection (c), Section 30A.002, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3) [or (b)], a student
  is eligible to enroll in one or more courses [provided through the
  state virtual school network] or enroll full-time in courses
  [provided through the network] if the student:
               (1)  is a dependent of a member of the United States
  military;
               (2)  was previously enrolled in high school in this
  state; and
               (3)  does not reside in this state due to a military
  deployment or transfer.
         SECTION 4.  Section 30A.003, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.003.  PROVISION OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT OR INTERNET
  SERVICE. This chapter does not:
               (1)  require a school district, an open-enrollment
  charter school, an electronic catalogue course [a] provider [school
  district or school], or the state to provide a student with home
  computer equipment or Internet access for a course provided through
  the state virtual school network; or
               (2)  prohibit a school district or open-enrollment
  charter school from providing a student with home computer
  equipment or Internet access for a course provided through the
  state virtual school network.
         SECTION 5.  Section 30A.007, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  shall adopt and send to students' parents twice per year a written 
  policy that provides district or school students in grade 3 through
  grade 12 with the opportunity to enroll part-time or full-time in
  electronic courses provided by electronic course providers,
  including electronic catalogue courses provided through the state
  virtual school network.
         (a-1)  The policy adopted under Subsection (a) must be
  consistent with the requirements imposed by Section 26.0031.
         SECTION 6.  Subsection (a), Section 30A.056, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each contract between an electronic catalogue course
  provider [a school district, an open-enrollment charter school, or
  a public or private institution of higher education] and the
  administering authority must:
               (1)  provide that the administering authority may
  cancel the contract without penalty if legislative authorization
  for the provider [district, school, or institution] to offer an
  electronic course through the state virtual school network is
  revoked; and
               (2)  be submitted to the commissioner.
         SECTION 7.  The heading to Section 30A.101, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.101.  ELIGIBILITY TO ACT AS ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE
  COURSE PROVIDER [SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SCHOOL].
         SECTION 8.  Section 30A.101, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school is
  eligible to act as an electronic catalogue course [a] provider
  [school district] under this chapter only if the district is rated
  acceptable or higher under Section 39.054.
         (c)  An entity other than a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school is eligible to act as an electronic
  catalogue course provider under this chapter only if the entity:
               (1)  complies with all applicable federal and state
  antidiscrimination laws;
               (2)  provides evidence of prior, successful experience
  offering online courses to elementary, middle, or high school
  students as determined by the commissioner; and
               (3)  can demonstrate that the entity is financially
  solvent.
         (d)  An open-enrollment charter school may not offer a
  full-time electronic course program unless the charter
  establishing the school under Section 12.101 authorizes the school
  to operate such a program.
         SECTION 9.  Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 30A.1011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.1011.  DURATION OF APPROVAL STATUS; APPROVAL
  MONITORING AND REPORTING.  (a)  An entity that is approved as an
  electronic catalogue course provider may operate as an electronic
  catalogue course provider for an initial authorization period
  lasting until the end of the third full school year after the
  approval.
         (b)  At the expiration of an initial authorization period,
  the administering authority may approve an electronic catalogue
  course provider for subsequent authorization periods using
  eligibility criteria under Section 30A.101. A subsequent
  authorization period may not be for less than three or more than 10
  school years.
         (c)  Following the second full school year of an initial
  authorization period, the administering authority shall review the
  electronic catalogue course provider's activities and the academic
  performance of the students enrolled in courses offered by the
  provider using applicable accountability provisions under Chapter
  39.  If the electronic catalogue course provider does not comply
  with applicable standards established by the commissioner, the
  administering authority shall place the provider on probation. An
  electronic catalogue course provider on probation:
               (1)  may continue to offer electronic courses for the
  remainder of the authorization period;
               (2)  shall submit to the administering authority an
  improvement plan in accordance with rules adopted by the
  commissioner;
               (3)  shall publish on the provider's Internet website
  its probationary status along with a copy of the improvement plan
  submitted to the administering authority;
               (4)  may be removed from probation after the provider
  is able to demonstrate to the administering authority the
  provider's compliance with applicable accountability provisions
  under Chapter 39; and
               (5)  must demonstrate compliance by the end of the
  third year of the initial authorization.
         (d)  The commissioner may remove the approved status of an
  electronic catalogue course provider on probation if the provider
  does not comply with Subsection (c)(5).  If the provider's approved
  status is removed, the provider may not reapply until the third
  anniversary of the date of removal.
         (e)  The administering authority shall continually monitor
  and evaluate the electronic catalogue course provider in accordance
  with performance standards established by the commissioner using
  student academic performance as the main criterion.
         SECTION 10.  Section 30A.102, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.102.  LISTING OF ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE 
  COURSES.  (a)  The administering authority shall:
               (1)  publish the criteria required by Section 30A.103
  for electronic catalogue courses that may be offered through the
  state virtual school network;
               (2)  using the criteria required by Section 30A.103,
  evaluate electronic catalogue courses submitted by an electronic
  catalogue course [a] provider [school district or school] to be
  offered through the network;
               (3)  create a list of electronic catalogue courses
  approved by the administering authority; and
               (4)  publish in a prominent location on the state
  virtual school network's Internet website [provide public access
  to] the list of approved electronic catalogue courses offered
  through the network and a detailed description of the courses that
  complies with Section 30A.108.
         (b)  To ensure that a full range of electronic catalogue 
  courses, including advanced placement courses, are offered to
  students in this state, the administering authority:
               (1)  shall create a list of those subjects and courses
  designated by the board under Subchapter A, Chapter 28, for which
  the board has identified essential knowledge and skills or for
  which the board has designated content requirements under
  Subchapter A, Chapter 28;
               (2)  shall enter into agreements with electronic
  catalogue course providers [school districts, open-enrollment
  charter schools, and public or private institutions of higher
  education] for the purpose of offering the courses through the
  state virtual school network; and
               (3)  may develop or authorize the development of
  additional electronic catalogue courses that[:
                     [(A)     are needed to complete high school
  graduation requirements; and
                     [(B)]  are not otherwise available through the
  state virtual school network.
         (c)  The administering authority shall develop a
  comprehensive course numbering system for all electronic catalogue
  courses offered through the state virtual school network to ensure,
  to the greatest extent possible, consistent numbering of similar
  courses offered across all electronic catalogue course providers.
         SECTION 11.  Subsections (a) and (c), Section 30A.1021,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The administering authority shall provide students who
  have completed or withdrawn from electronic catalogue courses
  [offered through the virtual school network] and their parents with
  a mechanism for providing comments regarding the courses.
         (c)  The administering authority shall provide public access
  to the comments submitted by students and parents under this
  section.  The comments must be in a format that permits a person to
  sort the comments by teacher, electronic catalogue course, and
  electronic catalogue course provider [school district or school].
         SECTION 12.  Subsection (a), Section 30A.103, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The board by rule shall establish an objective standard
  criteria for an electronic catalogue course to ensure alignment
  with the essential knowledge and skills requirements identified or
  content requirements established under Subchapter A, Chapter
  28.  The criteria may not permit the administering authority to
  prohibit course providers [provider school districts or schools]
  from applying for approval for an electronic course for inclusion
  as an electronic catalogue [a] course if [for which] essential
  knowledge and skills have been identified for that course.
         SECTION 13.  The heading to Section 30A.104, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.104.  COURSE ELIGIBILITY FOR INCLUSION IN STATE
  VIRTUAL SCHOOL NETWORK [IN GENERAL].
         SECTION 14.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 30A.104,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An electronic catalogue [A] course [offered through the
  state virtual school network] must:
               (1)  be in a specific subject that is part of the
  required curriculum under Section 28.002(a);
               (2)  be aligned with the essential knowledge and skills
  identified under Section 28.002(c) for grade 3 through grade 12 [a
  grade level at or above grade level three]; and
               (3)  be the equivalent in instructional rigor and scope
  to a course that is provided in a traditional classroom setting
  during:
                     (A)  a semester of 90 instructional days; and
                     (B)  a school day that meets the minimum length of
  a school day required under Section 25.082.
         (b)  If the essential knowledge and skills with which an
  electronic catalogue [approved] course is aligned in accordance
  with Subsection (a)(2) are modified, the electronic catalogue
  course provider [school district or school] must be provided the
  same time period to revise the course to achieve alignment with the
  modified essential knowledge and skills as is provided for the
  modification of a course provided in a traditional classroom
  setting.
         SECTION 15.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 30A.1041,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A course provider [school district, open-enrollment
  charter school, or public or private institution of higher
  education] may seek approval to offer through the state virtual
  school network the classroom portion of a driver education and
  traffic safety course that complies with the requirements for the
  program developed under Section 29.902.
         (b)  A course provider [school district, open-enrollment
  charter school, or public or private institution of higher
  education] may not offer through the state virtual school network
  the laboratory portion of a driver education and traffic safety
  course.
         SECTION 16.  Subsections (a), (a-1), (c), and (d), Section
  30A.105, Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The administering authority shall:
               (1)  establish a [schedule for an annual] submission
  and approval process for electronic catalogue courses that occurs
  on a rolling basis; and
               (2)  evaluate electronic catalogue courses to be
  offered through the state virtual school network[; and
               [(3)     not later than August 1 of each year, approve
  electronic courses that:
                     [(A)     meet the criteria established under Section
  30A.103; and
                     [(B)     provide the minimum instructional rigor and
  scope required under Section 30A.104].
         (a-1)  The administering authority shall publish the
  submission and approval process for electronic catalogue courses
  [schedule] established under Subsection (a)(1), including any
  deadlines [specified in that schedule,] and [any] guidelines
  applicable to the [submission and approval] process [for electronic
  courses].
         (c)  The agency shall pay the reasonable costs of evaluating
  and approving electronic courses for inclusion as an electronic
  catalogue course.  If funds available to the agency for that purpose
  are insufficient to pay the costs of evaluating and approving all
  electronic courses submitted for evaluation and approval, the
  agency shall give priority to paying the costs of evaluating and
  approving the following courses:
               (1)  courses that satisfy high school graduation
  requirements;
               (2)  courses that would likely benefit a student in
  obtaining admission to a postsecondary institution;
               (3)  courses, including dual credit courses, that allow
  a student to earn college credit or other advanced credit;
               (4)  courses in subject areas most likely to be highly
  beneficial to students receiving educational services under the
  supervision of a juvenile probation department, the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department [Youth Commission], or the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice; [and]
               (5)  courses in subject areas designated by the
  commissioner as commonly experiencing a shortage of teachers; and
               (6)  courses in subject areas designated by the
  commissioner as a high priority.
         (d)  If the agency determines that the costs of evaluating
  and approving a submitted electronic course will not be paid by the
  agency due to a shortage of funds available for that purpose, the
  course provider [school district, open-enrollment charter school,
  or public or private institution of higher education] that
  submitted the course for evaluation and approval may pay a fee not 
  [equal] to exceed the amount of the costs in order to ensure that
  evaluation of the course occurs.  The agency shall establish and
  publish a fee schedule for purposes of this subsection.
         SECTION 17.  Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 30A.1052 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.1052.  INTERSTATE COURSE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS.
  The commissioner shall adopt a process for approving reciprocal
  agreements with agencies in other states to allow students residing
  in this state to enroll through the state virtual school network in
  electronic courses provided in other states.  The process must
  include provisions that ensure that:
               (1)  electronic courses provided in other states meet
  electronic catalogue course eligibility guidelines under Section
  30A.104; and
               (2)  each teacher of an electronic course provided in
  another state:
                     (A)  possesses certification credentials similar
  to those required under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and
                     (B)  successfully completes the appropriate
  professional development course provided under Section 30A.112 or
  30A.1121 before teaching an electronic catalogue course.
         SECTION 18.  Section 30A.106, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.106.  APPEAL TO COMMISSIONER. (a)  An entity
  seeking approval to act as an electronic catalogue course provider
  or a course [A] provider seeking approval of an electronic course
  [school district or school] may appeal to the commissioner the
  administering authority's refusal to approve the entity as an
  electronic catalogue course provider under Section 30A.101 or
  approve an electronic catalogue course under Section 30A.105.
         (b)  If the commissioner determines that the administering
  authority's evaluation did not follow the criteria or was otherwise
  irregular, the commissioner may overrule the administering
  authority and approve the course provider or place the course on a
  list of approved electronic catalogue courses.  The commissioner's
  decision under this section is final and may not be appealed.
         SECTION 19.  The heading to Section 30A.107, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.107.  OPTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE COURSE
  PROVIDERS AND STUDENTS.
         SECTION 20.  Subsection (a), Section 30A.107, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An electronic catalogue course [A] provider [school
  district or school] may offer electronic catalogue courses to:
               (1)  students and adults who reside in this state; and
               (2)  students who reside outside this state and who
  meet the eligibility requirements under Section 30A.002(c).
         SECTION 21.  Subsection (b), Section 30A.108, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Each report under this section must be updated not later
  than the 30th day after the date an electronic course is approved
  for inclusion as an electronic catalogue course and must describe
  each electronic catalogue course [offered through the state virtual
  school network] and must include information such as course
  requirements and the school year calendar for the course, including
  any options for continued participation outside of the standard
  school year calendar.
         SECTION 22.  Subsection (a), Section 30A.111, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each teacher of an electronic catalogue course offered
  by an electronic catalogue course provider [a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school through the state virtual school
  network] must:
               (1)  be certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to
  teach that course and grade level; and
               (2)  successfully complete the appropriate
  professional development course provided under Section 30A.112(a)
  or 30A.1121 during the teacher's first year of [before] teaching an
  electronic catalogue course [offered through the network].
         SECTION 23.  Section 30A.1121, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.1121.  ALTERNATIVE EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL
  DEVELOPMENT. (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), an electronic
  catalogue course provider [a school district or open-enrollment
  charter school] may provide professional development courses to
  teachers seeking to become authorized to teach electronic catalogue 
  courses provided through the state virtual school network.  An
  electronic catalogue course provider [A district or school] may
  provide a professional development course that is approved under
  Subsection (b) to any interested teacher, regardless of [whether]
  the teacher's employer [teacher is employed by the district or
  school].
         (b)  The agency shall review each professional development
  course sought to be provided by an electronic catalogue course
  provider [a school district or open-enrollment charter school]
  under Subsection (a) to determine if the course meets the quality
  standards established under Section 30A.113.  If a course meets
  those standards, the electronic catalogue course provider
  [district or school] may provide the course for purposes of
  enabling a teacher to comply with Section 30A.111(a)(2).
         SECTION 24.  Section 30A.114, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.114.  REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS. The
  commissioner by rule shall allow regional education service centers
  to participate in the state virtual school network in the same
  manner as electronic catalogue course providers [provider school
  districts and schools].
         SECTION 25.  The heading to Section 30A.153, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.153.  [FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM] FUNDING OF
  ELECTRONIC COURSES.
         SECTION 26.  Section 30A.153, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school in
  which a student is enrolled is entitled to funding based on a
  per-course amount under Chapter 42 for the student's enrollment in
  an electronic catalogue course or other electronic course in which
  a student has enrolled that is offered through the state virtual
  school network in the same manner that the district or school is
  entitled to funding for the student's enrollment in courses
  provided in a traditional classroom setting, provided that the
  student successfully completes the electronic course and without
  respect to the setting in which the student participates in the
  course.
         (a-1)  For a full-time electronic course program offered
  through the state virtual school network for grades 3 through 12, a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to
  receive state and local funding for a student enrolled in the
  program in an amount equal to the funding the district or school
  would otherwise receive for a student enrolled in the district or
  school. The district or school may calculate the average daily
  attendance of a student enrolled in the program based on:
               (1)  hours of contact with the student;
               (2)  the student's successful completion of a course;
  or
               (3)  a method approved by the commissioner.
         (b)  The commissioner, after considering comments from
  school district and open-enrollment charter school
  representatives, shall adopt a standard agreement that governs
  payment of funds and other matters relating to a student's
  enrollment in an electronic catalogue course offered through the
  state virtual school network.  The agreement may not require a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school to pay the
  electronic catalogue course provider the full amount until the
  student has successfully completed the electronic catalogue
  course.
         SECTION 27.  The heading to Section 30A.155, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30A.155.  FEES AND TUITION.
         SECTION 28.  Section 30A.155, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (b), (c), and (c-1) and adding
  Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school in
  which a student resides or is enrolled may charge a fee for
  enrollment in an electronic catalogue course [provided through the
  state virtual school network] to a student who resides in this state
  and:
               (1)  is enrolled in the [a school] district or
  [open-enrollment charter] school as a full-time student; and
               (2)  is enrolled in a course load greater than that
  normally taken by students in the equivalent grade level in other
  school districts or open-enrollment charter schools.
         (a-1)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  in which a student resides or is enrolled may charge a fee for
  enrollment in an electronic catalogue course provided [through the
  state virtual school network] during the summer.
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school in
  which a student resides or is enrolled shall charge a fee for
  enrollment in an electronic catalogue course provided [through the
  state virtual school network] to a student who resides in this state
  and is not enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school as a full-time student.
         (c)  The amount of a fee charged a student under Subsection
  (a), (a-1), or (b) for each electronic course in which the student
  enrolls through the state virtual school network must be used to pay
  the costs of the course provider through the agreement under
  Section 30A.153 and may not exceed the lesser of:
               (1)  the cost of providing the course; or
               (2)  $400.
         (c-1)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  that is not the electronic catalogue course provider [school
  district or school] may charge a student enrolled in the district or
  school a nominal fee, not to exceed the amount specified by the
  commissioner, if the student enrolls in an electronic catalogue 
  course [provided through the state virtual school network] that
  exceeds the course load normally taken by students in the
  equivalent grade level.  A juvenile probation department or state
  agency may charge a comparable fee to a student under the
  supervision of the department or agency.
         (e)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school in
  which a student resides or is enrolled may charge tuition to a
  student not enrolled in a public school who enrolls in an electronic
  course provided by the district or school in an amount equal to the
  per-course amount designated under Section 30A.153(a).  If a
  district or school accepts a tuition charge under this subsection,
  the provider is not otherwise entitled to funding from any other
  source for the student's enrollment in the course.
         SECTION 29.  Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 32.005 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.005.  STUDY ON SCHOOL DISTRICT NETWORK CAPABILITIES.
  (a)  The commissioner shall conduct a study to assess the network
  capabilities of each school district.  The study must gather
  sufficient information to determine whether the network
  connections of a district and school campuses in the district meet
  the following targets:
               (1)  an external Internet connection to a campus's
  Internet service provider featuring a bandwidth capable of a
  broadband speed of at least 100 megabits per second for every 1,000
  students and staff members; and
               (2)  an internal wide area network connection between
  the district and each of the school campuses in the district
  featuring a bandwidth capable of a broadband speed of at least one
  gigabit per second for every 1,000 students and staff members.
         (b)  The commissioner may solicit and accept gifts and grants
  from any public or private source to conduct the study. The
  commissioner may also cooperate or collaborate with national
  organizations conducting similar studies.
         (c)  The commissioner shall complete the study not later than
  December 1, 2014.  This section expires December 1, 2015.
         SECTION 30.  The following provisions of the Education Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Subsection (b), Section 30A.002;
               (2)  Subsection (b), Section 30A.101, as amended by
  Chapters 895 (House Bill No. 3) and 1328 (House Bill No. 3646), Acts
  of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009; and
               (3)  Subsection (f), Section 30A.151.
         SECTION 31.  This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 32.  Section 30A.101, Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an entity that seeks to become a course
  provider through the state virtual school network on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 33.  Section 30A.1011, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an entity that becomes a course provider
  through the state virtual school network on or after the effective
  date of this Act.
         SECTION 34.  Not later than January 1, 2014, the
  commissioner of education shall adopt a process for approving
  reciprocal agreements as required by Section 30A.1052, Education
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 35.  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, 2013.
 
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