HB2243 - Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

      H.B. No. 2243         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)  five members 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 members appointed by the governor must include at   least three people who are current or former classroom teachers   with at least 10 years of teaching experience.           (d)     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.           (e)     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   geographic diversity of this state.           Sec.   21.753.     PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall   designate a member of the commission to serve as 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.           (b)     If the agency employs a staff member whose sole duty is   to provide administrative support for the commission under this   section, the agency shall consult with the presiding officer or the   presiding officer's designee in the hiring or selection of the   staff member.           (c)     Funding for the administrative, staffing, legal, and   operational expenses of the commission shall be provided by   appropriation to the agency for that purpose.           Sec.   21.757.     PROCUREMENT.   (a)   The agency may procure goods   and services to support the commission's work, including research   and consulting services.           (b)     The competitive bidding contract procedures established   by Chapters 2155, 2156, 2157, and 2158, Government Code, and the   requirements of Chapter 2254, Government Code, do not apply to a   contract awarded by the agency to implement this subchapter.           (c)     For the purposes of procurement under Subsection (a),   the agency shall enter into a contract only if the contract is   approved by a majority vote of the commission's members.           Sec.   21.758.     RECOMMENDATIONS. (a)   The commission shall   develop recommendations under this subchapter to 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 law relating to   student discipline on teacher job satisfaction and effectiveness;                 (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; and                 (6)     the impact of an administrator's competency in   effectively discharging the administrator's duties on teacher job   satisfaction and effectiveness.           (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.   21.759.     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.   21.760.     PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)     The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its   duties under this subchapter.           (b)     Commission meetings are not subject to Chapter 551,   Government Code.           (c)     The commission is a governmental body for the purposes   of Chapter 552, Government Code.           Sec.   21.761.     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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2243 was passed by the House on May 7,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 113, Nays 31, 1 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 2243 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 99, Nays 36,   2 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 2243 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 27, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays   10.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor