SB2106 - Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

      By: Creighton S.B. No. 2106               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job   Satisfaction and Retention.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter P to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER P. TEXAS COMMISSION ON TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION AND   RETENTION           Sec.   21.751.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"   means the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and   Retention.           Sec.   21.752.     TEXAS COMMISSION ON TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION   AND RETENTION. (a) The Texas Commission on Teacher Job   Satisfaction and Retention is established to develop and make   recommendations for improving teacher job satisfaction and   retention.           (b)     The commission is composed of 13 members, consisting of   the following:                 (1)  one member appointed by the governor;                 (2)     four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;   and                 (3)     four members appointed by the speaker of the house   of representatives.           (c)     The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the   speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of:                 (1)     three members of the applicable legislative   chamber; and                 (2)     an administrator in the public school system or an   elected member of the board of trustees of a school district.           (d)     In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),   and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the   house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the   membership of the commission reflects, to the extent possible, the   ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.           Sec.   21.753.     PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall   designate the presiding officer of the commission.           Sec.   21.754.     COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of   the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the   commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and   necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.           Sec.   21.755.     COMMISSION PERSONNEL. The commission may hire   employees and hire or contract with legal counsel as necessary to   carry out the purposes of this subchapter.           Sec.   21.756.     ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a)   Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support   for the commission. If the agency employs a staff member whose sole   duty is for support of the commission, selection of the staff member   shall be done in conjunction with the presiding officer or the   presiding officer's designee.           (b)     Funding for the administrative, staffing, legal, and   operational expenses of the commission shall be provided by   appropriation to the agency for that purpose.           (c)     The agency may procure goods and services to support the   commission's work, including without limitation research and   consulting services, and is delegated all authority and purchasing   functions relating to the purchase of those goods or services   without complying with standard procurement law, rules,   regulations and procedures. If a contract is funded through the   appropriations described in this subchapter, and the agency has   selected the contractor in accordance with Section 29.035(d), then   purchasing requirements including without limitation those set   forth in Section 2254, Section 2155.061, Section 2155.063, and   Section 2155.0755, Government Code, do not apply to the procurement   function under this subchapter. The commission's members shall   vote on the selected contractor and final contract, and if approved   by majority vote, then the commissioner shall execute the contract   on behalf of the commission.           Sec.   21.757.     RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall   develop recommendations under this subchapter that improve student   outcomes by addressing issues related to teacher job satisfaction   and retention, including:                 (1)     methods to reduce the paperwork and other   administrative burdens placed on teachers, including by evaluating   the effectiveness of Section 7.060 and other laws in reducing   paperwork for teachers;                 (2)     the impact of requirements in this code and   commissioner rules on administrative staffing levels in public   schools;                 (3)     methods to lessen administrative burdens in public   schools to focus more resources on supporting teachers;                 (4)     the impact of state and federal education law   regarding discipline on teacher job satisfaction and   effectiveness; and                 (5)     the impact of compliance with federal education   law on teacher job satisfaction and retention, including the impact   on teachers, public school students, and public primary and   secondary education programs in this state if this state were to   decline federal education funding.           (b)     The commission may establish one or more working groups   composed of not more than five members of the commission to study,   discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to   refer to the commission for consideration.           Sec.   21.758.     REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the   commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and   the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve   teacher job satisfaction and retention.           Sec.   21.759.     PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)   The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its   duties under this subchapter.           (b)     The commission may hold public meetings as needed to   fulfill its duties under this subchapter.           (c)     As an advisory body, the commission is not subject to   Chapter 551, Government Code.           (d)     The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government   Code.           Sec.   21.760.     COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION. The   commission is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1,   2027.          SECTION 2.  Not later than the 30th day after the effective   date of this Act, the appropriate persons shall make the   appointments required by Section 21.752, Education Code, as added   by this Act.          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, 2025.