SB218 - Relating to requiring the board of trustees of each school district to create a nonvoting student trustee position on the board.

  89R1374 MEW-F     By: West S.B. No. 218       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring the board of trustees of each school district   to create a nonvoting student trustee position on the board.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 11.0512 to read as follows:           Sec.   11.0512.     STUDENT TRUSTEE.   (a)   In addition to the   number of trustees of a school district as provided by Section   11.051, the board of trustees of each school district shall appoint   a student trustee in the manner provided by this section.           (b)     The commissioner shall develop a uniform application   form to be used to solicit eligible applicants for the position of   student trustee.           (c)     Except as provided by Subsection (d), the principal of   each high school in a school district shall:                 (1)     not later than November 1 of each year, solicit   applicants for appointment to the next regular term of the position   of student trustee of the school district using the uniform   application form developed under Subsection (b);                 (2)     not later than January 1, select three applicants   from the applications received to serve as the school's   recommendations for the position of student trustee; and                 (3)     send the school's recommendations and   corresponding applications to the president of the board of   trustees of the school district.           (d)     If a school district includes more than one high school,   the principal of the high school at which a current student trustee   is enrolled at the time of the student's appointment may not solicit   applicants for the position of student trustee for the next regular   term of the position.           (e)     The president of the board of trustees of each school   district shall select two or more applicants from the applications   received to serve as recommendations to the board for the student   trustee position.           (f)     The board of trustees of a school district may request   to review all applications for the position of student trustee   received by the board president and may request an applicant to   submit additional information.           (g)     On June 1, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the   board by majority vote shall appoint one of the applicants to serve   as the student trustee for the district for a one-year term expiring   May 31 of the following year.           (h)     To be eligible for appointment as a student trustee for   a school district, a person must:                 (1)     be enrolled as a student at a high school in the   district; and                 (2)     be in good academic standing as determined by the   school at which the student is enrolled at the time of appointment.           (i)     Throughout a student's term as a student trustee, the   student must:                 (1)  remain enrolled at the school; and                 (2)     maintain a grade point average of 2.5 on a   four-point scale, or the equivalent.           (j)     The principal of the school at which a student trustee   is enrolled shall notify the president of the board of trustees of   the school district if the student trustee fails to maintain the   qualifications required by Subsection (i).   On receiving notice,   the president of the board of trustees of the school district shall   declare the position as vacant and as soon as practicable fill the   vacancy in the manner prescribed by Subsection (l).           (k)     A student trustee is not a member of the board of   trustees of the school district for which the student is appointed.     A student trustee has the same powers and duties as a member of the   board of trustees, including the right to attend and participate in   meetings of the board, except that the student trustee:                 (1)     may not vote on any matter before the board or make   or second any motion before the board; and                 (2)     is not counted in determining whether a quorum   exists for a meeting of the board or in determining the outcome of   any vote of the board.           (l)     A vacancy in the position of student trustee for a   school district shall be filled for the unexpired term by   appointment by the president of the board of trustees of the school   district in consultation with the board.           (m)     A student trustee serves without compensation but is   entitled to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the   student in attending meetings of the board, subject to the approval   of the president of the board of trustees of the school district.           (n)     A school district may grant to a student who fulfills   the requirements of service of a student trustee not more than one   academic course credit in a subject area determined appropriate by   the district.          SECTION 2.  Section 11.0511, Education Code, is repealed.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.