89R4881 SCL-F     By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 1588       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to training requirements for certain public officials and   candidates for public office.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 11.159(c-1) and (d), Education Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (c-1)  The agency shall, for the training required by   Subsection (c)(1):                (1)  provide the training; and                (2)  certify the completion of the training by a   trustee or candidate for trustee [must be research-based and   designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees   under Section 11.1515].          (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].          SECTION 2.  Section 74.025, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 74.025.  EDUCATION PROGRAMS. The court of criminal   appeals shall, if adequate funding is available for education   programs for judges and court personnel, ensure that adequate   education programs are available through an institution of higher   education or the State Bar of Texas on an equitable basis for judges   and court personnel of courts created under the constitution and   laws of this state.          SECTION 3.  Sections 418.005(d) and (e), Government Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (d)  The division may provide the training and may also   approve any acceptable course of training provided [offered] by a   governmental body [or other entity].  The division shall ensure   that at least one course of training approved or provided by the   division is available on videotape or a functionally similar and   widely available medium at no cost.          (e)  The division or governmental body [other entity]   providing the training shall provide a certificate of course   completion to a person who completes the training required by this   section.  A person who completes the training required by this   section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the   record of the person's completion of the training.          SECTION 4.  Sections 551.005(b) and (c), Government Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (b)  The attorney general shall ensure that the training is   made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the   training and may also approve any acceptable course of training   offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney   general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved   or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a   functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The   training must include instruction in:                (1)  the general background of the legal requirements   for open meetings;                (2)  the applicability of this chapter to governmental   bodies;                (3)  procedures and requirements regarding quorums,   notice, and recordkeeping under this chapter;                (4)  procedures and requirements for holding an open   meeting and for holding a closed meeting under this chapter; and                (5)  penalties and other consequences for failure to   comply with this chapter.          (c)  The office of the attorney general or other governmental   body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of   course completion to persons who complete the training required by   this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make   available for public inspection the record of its members'   completion of the training.          SECTION 5.  Sections 552.012(d) and (e), Government Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (d)  The attorney general shall ensure that the training is   made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the   training and may also approve any acceptable course of training   offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney   general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved   or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a   functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The   training must include instruction in:                (1)  the general background of the legal requirements   for open records and public information;                (2)  the applicability of this chapter to governmental   bodies;                (3)  procedures and requirements regarding complying   with a request for information under this chapter;                (4)  the role of the attorney general under this   chapter; and                (5)  penalties and other consequences for failure to   comply with this chapter.          (e)  The office of the attorney general or other governmental   body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of   course completion to persons who complete the training required by   this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make   available for public inspection the record of its public officials'   or, if applicable, the public information coordinator's completion   of the training.          SECTION 6.  Section 2054.519(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  To be certified under Subsection (a), a cybersecurity   training program must:                (1)  focus on forming information security habits and   procedures that protect information resources; [and]                (2)  teach best practices for detecting, assessing,   reporting, and addressing information security threats; and                (3)  be provided by a state agency or local government.          SECTION 7.  Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows:          Sec. 180.011.  OFFICER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING   REQUIREMENTS. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the   governing body of a municipality, a member of a school board, an   elected county officer, or an individual appointed to fill a   vacancy in an elective county office is not required to attend or   complete any continuing education training required for the office.          SECTION 8.  Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          (c)  Continuing education required by this section must be:                (1)  approved by the comptroller; and                (2)  provided by the comptroller [a state agency] or an   accredited institution of higher education, including an   institution that is a part of or associated with an accredited   institution of higher education, such as the V. G. Young Institute   of County Government.          SECTION 9.  The following provisions are repealed:                (1)  Section 418.005(g), Government Code;                (2)  Section 2054.519(c), Government Code;                (3)  Section 81.0025, Local Government Code;                (4)  Section 83.003, Local Government Code; and                (5)  Section 84.0085, Local Government Code.          SECTION 10.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the State Board of Education shall modify all rules   that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act.          SECTION 11.  Sections 11.159, Education Code, 418.005,   551.005, 552.012, and 2054.519, Government Code, and 6.231, Tax   Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to training conducted on or   after the effective date of this Act. Training conducted before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect   immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 12.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.