Sec. 11.159.  MEMBER TRAINING AND ORIENTATION.  (a)  The State Board of Education shall provide a training course for independent school district trustees to be offered by the regional education service centers.  Registration for a course must be open to any interested person, including current and prospective board members, and the state board may prescribe a registration fee designed to offset the costs of providing that course.
(b)  A trustee must complete any training required by the State Board of Education.  The minutes of the last regular meeting of the board of trustees held before an election of trustees must reflect whether each trustee has met or is deficient in meeting the training required for the trustee as of the first anniversary of the date of the trustee's election or appointment.  If the minutes reflect that a trustee is deficient, the district shall post the minutes on the district's Internet website within 10 business days of the meeting and maintain the posting until the trustee meets the requirements.
(b-1)  The State Board of Education shall require a trustee to complete training on school safety.  The state board, in coordination with the Texas School Safety Center, shall develop the curriculum and materials for the training.
(c)  The State Board of Education shall require a trustee to complete every two years at least:
(1)  three hours of training on evaluating student academic performance; and
(2)  one hour of training on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children.
(c-1)  The training required by Subsection (c)(1) must be research-based and designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees under Section 11.1515.
(c-2)  A candidate for trustee may complete the training required by Subsection (c) up to one year before the candidate is elected.  A new trustee shall complete the training within 120 days after the date of the trustee's election or appointment.  A returning trustee shall complete the training by the second anniversary of the completion of the trustee's previous training.
(d)  A trustee or candidate for trustee may complete training required under Subsection (c) at a regional education service center or through another authorized provider.  A provider must certify the completion of the training by a trustee or candidate.
(e)  For purposes of this section, "other maltreatment" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1244 (H.B. 2563), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 925 (S.B. 1566), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 214 (H.B. 403), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 313 (H.B. 690), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.