HBA-KMH S.B. 1213 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1213 By: Whitmire Public Education 5/12/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas public school teachers lack the explicit authority to discipline a student verbally or by use of non-corporal punishment without facing reprisal from local or state education officials for such actions. This often results in a teacher's only recourse for an unruly student being to send the student to the principal's office. S.B. 1213 establishes conditions regarding discipline management techniques that a public school teacher may use. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.451(a), Education Code, to provide that staff development provided by a school district must include classroom management, district discipline policies, the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 (Student Code of Conduct), and Chapter 37 (Discipline; Law and Order). Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 37.001, Education Code, to provide that the student code of conduct must specify disciplinary options available to a teacher in addition to removing a student from the classroom under Section 37.002 (Removal by Teacher), which must comply with the educator's code of ethics and include the authority to verbally reprimand a student, require a student to sit in an assigned area of the classroom, and withdraw privileges from a student. Prohibits a teacher from being disciplined for an action taken in compliance with the student code of conduct and the educator's code of ethics adopted under Section 21.041(Rules; Fees). Provides that this section does not affect a teacher's immunity from civic liability under Section 22.051 (Immunity From Liability for Professional Employees). SECTION 3. Requires each school district to amend the district's student code of conduct to the extent necessary to comply with this Act, not later than December 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.