Bill Text: TX SB316 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the attorney general's duty to defend public school teachers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-01 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB316 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB316-Introduced.html

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86R2243 MM-D
By: Hughes S.B. No. 316

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the attorney general's duty to defend public school
teachers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 22, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.0518 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.0518. DEFENSE BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. (a) The
attorney general shall defend a civil action brought against a
teacher employed by a school district or open-enrollment charter
school as a result of an act that the teacher in good faith believed
was incident to or within the scope of the teacher's duties if the
attorney general determines that the teacher acted in good faith.
(b) Subsection (a) applies regardless of whether at the time
the action is initiated the teacher has terminated service with the
school district or open-enrollment charter school.
(c) A determination made by the attorney general under
Subsection (a) may not be admitted as evidence in a civil court
proceeding.
(d) Nothing in this section may be construed to deprive a
teacher of the teacher's right to select legal counsel of the
teacher's choosing at the teacher's own expense.
SECTION 2. Section 22.0518, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to actions brought on or after the effective
date of 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, 2019.