HBA-JEK S.B. 1705 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1705
By: Van de Putte
Public Education
5/6/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school
district to order that all, or not fewer than 70 percent of the trustees be
elected from single-member trustee districts.  The law requires all
positions on the board to be filled at the first election at which some or
all of the trustees are elected from trustee districts and after each
redistricting.  After being elected, the trustees are required to draw lots
for staggered terms as provided by statute.  Only those districts that
provide for five members of the board to be elected from single member
districts and for two members to be elected at large are allowed to provide
for the trustees in office to serve the remainder of their terms.  Senate
Bill 1705 authorizes the board of trustee members of all independent school
districts that adopt a single-member district plan to provide for members
to serve the remainder of their terms, and provides for a public hearing on
the issue in certain districts. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1705 amends the Education Code to authorize members of the
board of trustees of an independent school district that adopts a
single-member redistricting plan to provide for the trustees in office to
serve the remainder of their terms.  The bill requires the board of
trustees of a school district with 50,000 or more students in average daily
attendance to hold a public hearing, on request of a resident, on the issue
of staggered or simultaneous election of trustees from single-member
districts after redistricting before providing for members to serve the
remainder of their terms. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.