ATPE TRAVERSES THE 81ST LEGISLATURE
THE 81ST LEGISLATIVE SESSION draws to a close June 1. During the session, ATPE was able to work with several legislative offices to have bills filed on our behalf. Drafted by members of the ATPE lobby team, the bills reflect some of our top legislative priorities. The following is a list of ATPE-initiated bills and their status as of press time.
House Bill (HB) 2491, filed by Rep. Diane Patrick (R–Arlington), would protect the confidentiality of educators’ and school district employees’ personal information (including that of applicants for employment).
Status as of press time: This bill was passed by the House 107-18 April 24.
HB 2876, also filed by Patrick, would allow the release of confidential information for the purpose of investigating child abuse or neglect cases.
Status as of press time: This bill was voted favorably from the House Human Services Committee April 9 and is now waiting to be heard on the floor.
Senate Bill (SB) 1290, filed by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D–San Antonio), would authorize school districts to assign mentors to educators who find themselves in new assignments or grade levels.
Status as of press time: This bill was approved by the Senate April 6. Its House companion, HB 3771, was filed by Rep. Joe Farias (D–San Antonio) and heard by the House Public Education Committee April 21.
HB 2910, filed by Rep. Alma Allen (D–Houston), would require school districts to give all employees written notification of the district’s leave policies.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
SB 1858, filed by Sen. Royce West (D–Dallas), would require information obtained through required fingerprinting and background checks to be confidential. The House companion bill, HB 3419, was filed by Patrick.
Status as of press time: SB 1858 was voted favorably from the Senate State Affairs Committee April 23. HB 3419 was left pending by the House Public Safety Committee April 20.
HB 3865, filed by Rep. Eliott Naishtat (D–Austin), calls for changing the governance of the State Board of Education so that the board would elect its own chairman. Currently, the chairman is appointed by the governor.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
HB 3888 filed by Rep. Allen Vaught (D–Dallas). This bill would extend the current liability immunity found in the Texas Education Code for most professional school district employees to physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, athletic trainers and school psychologists.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
HB 3889, also filed by Vaught, would prohibit retaliation against school district employees who report violations of rules or laws by the district or another employee.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
HB 2351, filed by Rep. David Farabee (D–Wichita Falls), would authorize school districts to assign mentors to paraprofessionals and teachers’ aides.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
HB 1330, filed by Rep. Diana Maldonado (D–Round Rock), would establish a program that requires all members of the Texas House and Senate to visit five schools in their districts each term to inform students about the Legislature and the role of legislators in the legislative process.
Status as of press time: This bill has been referred to the House Public Education Committee.
The above information was current as of press time. For the latest on these bills and other education-related legislation, access the Legislative Update.