Resolution

Whereas, HB 1606 added a provision to the Texas Education Code which requires school trustees in districts with an enrollment of at least 5,000 students to file a personal financial disclosure statement beginning January 1, 2005 for the calendar year 2004; and

Whereas, failure to file the personal financial disclosure statement subjects a trustee to criminal liability, including fines and/or imprisonment; and

Whereas, the Texas Senate and House of Representatives each passed resolutions, with less than three hours remaining in the legislative session to pass substantive law, to allow this amendment to be added to HB 1606 by the conference committee after meeting behind closed doors with no public input; and

Whereas, school trustees serve with no compensation of any kind (including salary, insurance or other benefits) in contrast to most public servants currently required to file financial disclosure statements; and

Whereas, existing disclosure requirements are adequate to compel trustees to disclose an appropriate level of financial information in order to meet the public policy of protecting the district from financial conflicts of interest; and

Whereas, requiring a trustee to file a personal financial statement is bad public policy for Texas because it will discourage much-needed public service on local school board; now therefore,

Be it resolved that the Greenville Independent School District Board of Trustees opposes the amendment to HB 1606 which forces school district trustees to file personal financial disclosure statements and strongly urges repeal of section 11.064 of the Texas Education Code as added by HB 1606 at the first available opportunity for the Texas Legislature, including any special sessions prior to the beginning of the regular 79th legislative session in 2005.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Greenville Independent School District at its regular meeting on Monday, July 21, 2003.