By Hochberg/Danburg H.B. No. 769 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the consolidation of school districts. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Not later than December 31, 1993 the commissioner 1-5 of education shall adopt a plan for the consolidation of school 1-6 districts, to be effective with the 1994-1995 school year. The 1-7 plan shall meet the following requirements: 1-8 1.) Each district with wealth, as defined under 1-9 section 16.260, Education Code, greater than $350,000 per student 1-10 shall be consolidated with one or more districts to create a single 1-11 contiguous district with wealth less than $280,000 per student. 1-12 2.) Each district with less than 1,600 students in 1-13 average daily attendance that contains less than 300 square miles 1-14 shall be consolidated with one or more districts to create a single 1-15 contiguous district that has at least 2,000 students. 1-16 3.) Any other district that regularly spends more on 1-17 administrative costs per weighted student in average daily 1-18 attendance than 125 percent of the statewide average of such costs 1-19 shall also be considered for consolidation. Prior to the adoption 1-20 of the plan, each such district shall have the opportunity to 1-21 explain special circumstances that require such expenditures. In 1-22 determining administrative costs, the commissioner shall not 1-23 include expenditures for salaries and benefits for campus-based 2-1 principals or assistant principals. 2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-3 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-5 emergencey and an imperative public necessity that the 2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three separate 2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.