Certain charter-campus governing bodies are treated as governmental bodies, some qualifying employees get Teacher Retirement System coverage, and charter campuses, their employees/volunteers, and governing-body members get specified immunity protections.
Sec. 12.057. STATUS. (a) With respect to the operation of a campus or program granted a charter under this subchapter, the governing body of the campus or program provided for under the charter is considered a governmental body for purposes of Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code. (b) An employee of an independent school district who is employed on a campus or program granted a charter under this subchapter and who qualifies for membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be covered under the system in the same manner and to the same extent as a qualified employee of the independent school district who is employed on a regularly operating campus or in a regularly operating program. (b-1) An employee of a charter holder, as defined by Section 12.1012, who is employed on a campus or in a program granted a charter under this subchapter and who qualifies for membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be covered under the system in the same manner and to the same extent as a qualified employee of an independent school district who is employed on a regularly operating campus or in a regularly operating program. (c) A campus or program granted a charter under Section 12.052, 12.0521(a)(1), or 12.053 is immune from liability to the same extent as a school district, and its employees and volunteers are immune from liability to the same extent as school district employees and volunteers. A member of the governing body of the campus or program is immune from liability and suit to the same extent as a school district trustee. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1691), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1078 (H.B. 3357), Sec. 22, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1140 (S.B. 2), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 666 (H.B. 4687), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.