HBA-MPM H.B. 2770 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2770
By: Flores
Public Education
4/16/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not contain provisions that allow for cooperative learning
programs in public schools. Such programs could utilize distance leaning
technology to benefit smaller neighboring districts by giving them the
option to offer students instruction in specific subject areas and advanced
college placement courses while sharing the cost of the teacher's salary.
House Bill 2770 authorizes two or more school districts to form a
cooperative distance learning program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in
SECTION 1 (Section 29.903, Education Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2770 amends the Education Code to authorize two or more school
districts to form a cooperative distance learning program (program).  The
bill provides that a program may offer high school level mathematics and
science courses and college advanced placement courses.  The bill requires
the districts that form a program to share the cost of the salary of
program teachers.  A program teacher who teaches for a minimum of four
hours per day is entitled to the minimum salary prescribed by existing
state law whether those hours are in a regular classroom or in a distance
learning environment. The bill authorizes the commissioner of education to
adopt rules establishing technical standards for programs to facilitate
communication between school districts. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act apples beginning with the 2001-2002
school year.