Texas SB 439: Relating to approval by the commissioner of education of certain contracts entered into by a school district during the pendency of certain special investigations.

Bill Text

By:AAHinojosaof HidalgoS.B.ANo.A439
A BILLTO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relatingto approvalby thecommissionerof educationof certain
contractsenteredintoby a schooldistrictduringthe pendencyof
certainspecialinvestigations.
BE IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF TEXAS:
SECTION
A1.AASubchapterA,  Chapter39,EducationCode,is
amendedby addingSection39.0041to readas follows:
Sec.
A39.0041.AACOMMISSIONERAPPROVALOFCERTAINSCHOOL
DISTRICTCONTRACTSDURINGPENDENCYOFCERTAINSPECIAL
INVESTIGATIONS.(a) In thissection,"severancepayment"meansany
amountpaidby a schooldistrictto or in behalfof a district
employeeon earlyterminationof the employee
’s employmentcontract
thatexceedsthe amountearnedby the employeeunderthe contractas
of the dateof termination,includingany amountthatexceedsthe
amountof earnedstandardsalaryandbenefits,thatis paidas a
conditionof earlyterminationof the contract.
(b)
AAThissectionappliestoa  specialinvestigation
conductedunderSection39.003(a)(3),(6),or (17)in responseto:
(1)
AAa complaint,allegation,or suspicionof financial
or operationalimproprietyat a schooldistrict;or
(2)
AAthe violationof procurementpoliciesby a member
of theboardof trusteesof a schooldistrictor a district
administrator.
(c)
AANotwithstandingSubchapterD,  Chapter11,   or any other
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89R881TSS-D1

law,duringtheperiodbeginningon  thedateon  whichthe
commissionerauthorizesa specialinvestigationto whichthis
sectionappliesandcontinuingthroughthedateon whichthe
investigationis concludedor, if applicable,the dateon whichan
appealunderthissubchapteror Section39A.301relatingto the
investigationis concluded,theboardof trusteesof theschool
districtthatis thesubjectof thespecialinvestigationshall,
beforeenteringintoa contractor amendinga contract,submitthe
contractor contractamendmentto the commissionerfor approvalif
the contractor amendment:
(1)
AAwillbindthe districtfor morethanone calendar
year;or
(2)
AAentitlesanemployeeofthedistricttoa
severancepayment.
(d)
AAA courtmay not enjoina requirementunderthissection
beforetheconclusionof a specialinvestigationto whichthis
sectionappliesor,if applicable,theconclusionof an appeal
underthissubchapterorSection39A.301relatingtothe
investigation.
(e)
AAIf the commissionermakesa determinationto appointa
monitor,conservator,managementteam,or boardof managersto a
schooldistrictas a resultof a specialinvestigationto whichthis
sectionapplies,thecommissionermayrequirethedistrictto
submita contractor contractamendmentfor approvalas described
by Subsection(c) untilthe dateof the appointment.
(f)
AANotwithstandinganyotherlaw,eachcontractor
contractamendmentthatis enteredintoby a schooldistrictduring
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theperioddescribedby Subsection(c)mustincludea provision
statingthatthe contractor amendmentis voidable.
(g)
AAA contractor contractamendmentthatis enteredintoby
a schooldistrictin violationof thissectionis void.
SECTION
A2.AAThe changesin law madeby thisAct applyonlyto
a contractor contractamendmententeredintoon or afterthe
effectivedateof thisAct.
SECTION
A3.AAThisAct takeseffectSeptember1, 2025.
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