HB4831 - Relating to prohibiting private schools from hiring persons in the registry of persons not eligible for employment in schools and to persons who must be listed in that registry.

  89R15519 KRM-D     By: Lowe H.B. No. 4831       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prohibiting private schools from hiring persons in the   registry of persons not eligible for employment in schools and to   persons who must be listed in that registry.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter C-1, Chapter 22,   Education Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER C-1. PERSONS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN [ PUBLIC ]   SCHOOLS          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 22.092, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 22.092.  REGISTRY OF PERSONS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR   EMPLOYMENT IN [ PUBLIC ] SCHOOLS.          SECTION 3.  Sections 22.092(a), (b), and (c), Education   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The agency shall maintain and make available through the   Internet portal developed and maintained by the agency under   Section 22.095 a registry of persons who are not eligible to be   employed by a school district, district of innovation,   open-enrollment charter school, other charter entity, private   school, regional education service center, or shared services   arrangement.          (b)  A school district, district of innovation,   open-enrollment charter school, other charter entity, private   school, regional education service center, or shared services   arrangement shall discharge or refuse to hire a person listed on the   registry maintained under this section.          (c)  The registry maintained under this section must list the   following persons as not eligible to be employed by public or   private schools:                (1)  a person determined by the agency under Section   22.0832 as a person who would not be eligible for educator   certification under Subchapter B, Chapter 21;                (2)  a person determined by the agency to be not   eligible for employment based on the person's criminal history   record information review, as provided by Section 22.0833;                (3)  a person who is not eligible for employment based   on criminal history record information received by the agency under   Section 21.058(b);                (4)  a person whose certification or permit issued   under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, is revoked by the State Board for   Educator Certification on a finding that the person engaged in   misconduct described by Section 21.006(b)(2)(A) or (A-1) or   21.0062(b)(2) ; and                (5)  a person who is determined by the commissioner   under Section 22.094 to have engaged in misconduct described by   Section 22.093(c)(1)(A) or (B).          SECTION 4.  Section 22.095, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 22.095.  INTERNET PORTAL. The agency shall develop and   maintain an Internet portal through which:                (1)  a report required under Section 22.093(f) may be   confidentially and securely filed; and                (2)  the agency makes available:                      (A)  the registry of persons who are not eligible   to be employed in [ public ] schools as described by Section 22.092;   and                      (B)  information indicating that a person is under   investigation for alleged misconduct in accordance with Section   22.094(d), provided that the agency must provide the information   through a procedure other than the registry described under   Paragraph (A).          SECTION 5.  Section 22.096, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 22.096.  COMPLIANCE MONITORING. The agency shall   periodically conduct site visits and review the records of school   districts, districts of innovation, open-enrollment charter   schools, other charter entities, private schools, regional   education service centers, and shared services arrangements to   ensure compliance with Section 22.092(b).          SECTION 6.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 7.  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.