TITLE: Relating to public notice and forums concerning finalists for the position of superintendent of a school district.

SUMMARY: Relating to public notice and forums concerning finalists for the position of superintendent of a school district.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to public notice and forums concerning finalists for the position of superintendent of a school district. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 11.1514 to read as follows: Sec. 11.1514. SUPERINTENDENT: PUBLIC NOTICE OF FINALISTS AND PUBLIC FORUM. (a) In accordance with Section 552.126, Government Code, the board of trustees of a school district shall give public notice of the name of each finalist the board is considering for the position of superintendent of the district. (b) A board of trustees considering superintendent finalists may hold one or more limited public forums at which, except as provided by Subsection (c), each finalist shall speak and parents of district students, teachers, and other community members may offer relevant information and opinions and ask relevant questions of any of the finalists. The board may establish procedures for the public forum, including establishment of a reasonable maximum time limit for each speaker. (c) A finalist is not required to speak at a public forum under Subsection (b) if the finalist is absent from the forum because of: (1) a death in the finalist's family; or (2) the illness of the finalist or of an immediate family member of the finalist. (d) The board shall give public notice of the subject matter, time, date, and place of a public forum not later than the fifth business day before the date the public forum is to be held. SECTION 2. Section 552.126, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 552.126. EXCEPTION: NAME OF APPLICANT FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The name of an applicant for the position of superintendent of a public school district is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021, except that the board of trustees must give public notice of the name or names of the finalists being considered for the position at least 30 [21] days before the date of the meeting at which a final action or vote is to be taken on the employment of the person. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies with respect to a meeting held after October 31, 2011, at which the board of trustees of a school district is to take a final action or vote on the employment of a finalist as superintendent. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.