Bill of the Day: House Bill 367 Would Mandate a 10% Reduction in School District and Teacher Required Paperwork

Today's Bill of the Day is House Bill 367 by Representative Charles "Doc" Anderson (R-Waco).  HB 367 would require the Texas Education Agency to adopt policies to reduce the amount of paperwork a school district is required to prepare by 10%.  In addition, the bill would require the school district's board of trustees to adopt policies to reduce the amount of paperwork a teacher is required to prepare by 10%. 

The full text of the bill is below after the jump.

By:  Anderson                                                                                     H.B. No. 367

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to restrictions on written information required to be provided by school districts and public school teachers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1.  Section 7.060, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c)  In addition to the requirements otherwise prescribed by this section, the commissioner shall adopt policies that result in a reduction of at least 10 percent in the total amount of written paperwork, reports, and other information that a school district is required by the agency to prepare, as determined in comparison to the total amount of written paperwork, reports, and other information required to be prepared by a school district during the 2008-2009 school year. The policies must be implemented beginning not later than the 2010-2011 school year.  This subsection expires September 1, 2011.

SECTION 2.  Section 11.164, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d)  In addition to the requirements otherwise prescribed by this section, the board of trustees of each school district shall adopt policies that result in a reduction of at least 10 percent in the total amount of written information that a teacher is required to prepare, as determined in comparison to the total amount of written information required to be prepared by a teacher during the 2008-2009 school year.  A school district shall implement the policies required by this subsection beginning not later than the 2010-2011 school year.  This subsection expires September 1, 2011.

SECTION 3.  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, 2009.