By: Grusendorf H.B. No. 677
73R1920 SHS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a commission to study and reorganize
1-3 school district boundaries.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 19, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Subchapter J to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER J. SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION COMMISSION
1-8 Sec. 19.251. SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION COMMISSION. (a)
1-9 The School District Reorganization Commission is created to develop
1-10 a rational plan for the reorganization of school districts.
1-11 (b) The plan shall provide for the delivery of educational
1-12 and related services in a manner that provides the best education
1-13 possible for students at the lowest possible cost.
1-14 Sec. 19.252. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The commission consists of
1-15 five members nominated by the Legislative Education Board and
1-16 appointed by the governor.
1-17 (b) The board shall recommend to the governor five persons
1-18 to be appointed to the commission. The governor shall either
1-19 reject a recommendation or appoint the person recommended to the
1-20 commission. If the governor rejects a recommendation, the board
1-21 shall submit additional recommendations until five are appointed by
1-22 the governor and confirmed by the senate.
1-23 (c) The governor shall designate one member as the presiding
1-24 officer.
2-1 (d) A member of the commission serves for a two-year term of
2-2 office.
2-3 (e) A member of the commission serves without compensation
2-4 for service on the commission but is entitled to per diem for
2-5 expenses as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
2-6 (f) A person who is employed by or who directly or
2-7 indirectly receives any financial benefit from a school district is
2-8 ineligible for appointment to the commission.
2-9 Sec. 19.253. REORGANIZATION PLAN. (a) The commission shall
2-10 adopt a comprehensive reorganization plan for school districts that
2-11 considers educational quality and efficiency.
2-12 (b) In developing the plan the commission shall determine
2-13 the school district size that is adequate to support a
2-14 comprehensive education program at a reasonable cost and develop
2-15 district boundaries that will accommodate the efficient delivery of
2-16 educational services.
2-17 (c) The plan should reorganize and consolidate school
2-18 districts in a manner that improves administrative efficiency and
2-19 provides for the effective use of state funds.
2-20 Sec. 19.254. TRANSITION PROVISIONS. (a) The reorganization
2-21 plan must include provision for the distribution of the funds and
2-22 other assets and the contracts and other liabilities of a school
2-23 district that is abolished, consolidated, or otherwise modified
2-24 under the reorganization plan among the school districts that
2-25 include territory of the modified district.
2-26 (b) The school districts established by the reorganization
2-27 plan may collect and use or distribute taxes imposed by the school
3-1 districts abolished, consolidated, or otherwise modified by the
3-2 plan that are delinquent in the manner provided by the
3-3 reorganization plan.
3-4 (c) The reorganization plan must include provisions for the
3-5 maintenance of the records of the school districts that are
3-6 abolished, consolidated, or otherwise modified by the
3-7 reorganization plan.
3-8 Sec. 19.255. IMPLEMENTATION. (a) The commission shall
3-9 complete the reorganization plan not later than December 31, 1994.
3-10 (b) The reorganization plan adopted by the commission takes
3-11 effect on July 1, 1995.
3-12 Sec. 19.256. STAFF. The Central Education Agency shall
3-13 provide staff, supplies, office space, and expertise to the
3-14 commission. The commission may request and use staff and expertise
3-15 of other state agencies including:
3-16 (1) the Legislative Budget Board; and
3-17 (2) the state auditor's office.
3-18 SECTION 2. The Legislative Education Board shall nominate
3-19 persons for appointment to the School District Reorganization
3-20 Commission not later than August 1, 1993. The governor shall
3-21 appoint members of the commission not later than September 1, 1993.
3-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-1 passage, and it is so enacted.