Bill Text: TX HB1930 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a charter school by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-10 - Referred to Education [HB1930 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1930-Introduced.html

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86R6964 MM-D
By: White H.B. No. 1930

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a charter school by the Texas
Juvenile Justice Department.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Education Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 20 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 20. TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARTER SCHOOL
Sec. 20.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Texas Juvenile Justice Board.
(2) "Charter school" means the charter school
established under this chapter.
(3) "Department" means the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department.
Sec. 20.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The board may establish a
charter school to educate children previously adjudicated as having
engaged in conduct indicating a need for supervision or delinquent
conduct.
(b) The charter school may only be established in a county
with a population of at least 250,000 but not more than 270,000 that
is located less than 100 miles from a department district office.
(c) The board is the governing body of the charter school
and shall provide for the operation of the charter school in the
manner the board determines appropriate.
Sec. 20.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The charter school is
subject to review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset
Act), and shall be reviewed during the period in which the
department is reviewed.
Sec. 20.004. GOALS. The goals of the charter school are to:
(1) enable students to:
(A) achieve high academic standards in secondary
education;
(B) participate in the workforce;
(C) join the military; and
(D) enroll in postsecondary education;
(2) maintain safe communities;
(3) reduce future adverse involvement in the criminal
justice system; and
(4) contribute to the prosperity and welfare of this
state.
Sec. 20.005. APPLICABILITY OF CODE. (a) Unless otherwise
specifically provided, a provision of this code applying to a
charter school or to the governing body of a charter school does not
apply to the charter school established under this chapter.
(b) The charter school is subject to a requirement imposed
by this title relating to:
(1) the required curriculum under Section 28.002;
(2) high school graduation requirements under Section
28.025; and
(3) academic and financial accountability standards
under Chapter 39.
Sec. 20.006. DUTIES. The charter school shall:
(1) develop an academic achievement plan for each
student attending the charter school that is designed to produce
high academic achievement and prepare the student for postsecondary
education or a military career;
(2) develop and implement a comprehensive,
evidence-based, individualized therapeutic counseling plan for
each student to facilitate academic achievement, mitigate
delinquent behavior, and encourage the involvement of the student's
parent or guardian; and
(3) provide vocational training programs that enable
students to obtain workforce credentials, including certification
or licensure.
Sec. 20.007. STAFF. (a) The charter school shall develop
or adopt a method to:
(1) attract and hire certified and highly qualified
teachers; and
(2) verify an applicant or employee's criminal history
record and disciplinary record, including criminal history or
disciplinary action relating to inappropriate conduct or
relationships with students or minors.
(b) The charter school shall employ:
(1) a principal who has a well-developed background in
academic leadership and demonstrated experience in dealing with
children who have entered the juvenile justice system;
(2) a sufficient number of:
(A) teachers to maintain a maximum of 15 students
in each class in the foundation curriculum under Section
28.002(a)(1); and
(B) social workers to maintain a ratio of not
less than one social worker for every three students to enable the
close management of students and the development of constructive
relationships between the social workers and students; and
(3) a highly qualified dietician to prepare healthy
meal plans for students, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Sec. 20.008. FACILITIES. The charter school must be
located in a facility selected by the department, in consultation
with a qualified architect, that is designed in a manner to
facilitate academic and behavioral development.
Sec. 20.009. FUNDING. (a) The charter school is entitled to
receive funding from the state in the same manner as an
open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.106.
(b) In addition to money received under Subsection (a), the
charter school may receive appropriated money from the department
to provide educational programs.
Sec. 20.010. GIFTS AND GRANTS. (a) The charter school may
accept a grant from a public or private organization and may spend
those funds to provide the charter school's programs and services.
(b) The charter school may accept federal funds and shall
use those funds in compliance with applicable federal law.
Sec. 20.011. COORDINATION. The department may coordinate
or partner with the juvenile probation department of the county in
which the charter school is located or with any other public or
private entity to establish the charter school or to provide the
charter school's programs or services.
SECTION 2. Section 1.001(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter
20, Subchapter A of Chapter 29, Subchapter E of Chapter 30, or
Chapter 30A, this code does not apply to students, facilities, or
programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Aging and
Disability Services, the Department of State Health Services, the
Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a Job Corps
program operated by or under contract with the United States
Department of Labor, or any juvenile probation agency.
SECTION 3. Section 661.031(2), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(2) "State employee" means an individual who is an
appointed officer or employee of a state agency and who normally
works 900 hours or more a year. The term includes:
(A) an hourly employee;
(B) a temporary employee;
(C) a person employed by:
(i) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas;
(ii) the Texas Education Agency;
(iii) the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board;
(iv) the Texas School for the Blind and
Visually Impaired;
(v) the Texas School for the Deaf;
(vi) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(vii) the Windham School District; [or]
(viii) the Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services; or
(ix) a charter school established under
Chapter 20, Education Code; and
(D) a classified, administrative, faculty, or
professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher
education who has accumulated vacation leave, sick leave, or both,
during the employment.
SECTION 4. Section 661.061(2), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(2) "State employee" means an employee or appointed
officer of a state agency. The term includes:
(A) a full-time employee or officer;
(B) a part-time employee or officer;
(C) an hourly employee;
(D) a temporary employee;
(E) a person employed by:
(i) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas;
(ii) the Texas Education Agency;
(iii) the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board;
(iv) the Texas School for the Blind and
Visually Impaired;
(v) the Texas School for the Deaf;
(vi) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(vii) the Windham School District; [or]
(viii) the Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services; or
(ix) a charter school established under
Chapter 20, Education Code; or
(F) a classified, administrative, faculty, or
professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher
education who has accumulated vacation leave during the employment.
SECTION 5. Section 1551.319(d), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(d) The executive head of the Windham School District or a
charter school established under Chapter 20, Education Code, shall
determine whether an educational professional employee of the
district or school is a full-time employee for purposes of this
chapter.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.