BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 194
By: Barrientos (Naishtat)
May 22, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The forerunner of Communities In Schools of Texas is the national
program, Cities in Schools (CIS).  The purpose of CIS is to offer
an alternative to young people, especially among the economically
disadvantaged, who have dropped out of school before graduation and
were headed for a lifetime of under-employment or unemployment. 
The Texas model emphasizes the in-school aspects of the service
model developed by the founders of CIS.

Today, industry, education, and governmental leaders in Texas as
well as the nation, recognize the need to address the problems
facing at-risk youth.  CIS has over 25 years of experience
nationally and 16 years in Texas dealing with the problems facing
youth in our communities.  With the help of government, business
and social service agencies, CIS is helping community leaders
address these problems.

PURPOSE

As proposed, SB 194 provides for the operation and expansion of the
CIS program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 216.021, Labor Code, as follows:

Sec. 216.021.  DESIGNATION OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.  (A) Requires
the state coordinator, in cooperation with program directors in
counties or cities (areas) in which a CIS program is located to
designate for participation in the program in the first year of the
1996-1997 state fiscal biennium the campuses that were
participating in the program as of August 31, 1995, for
continuation in the program, and additional campuses if the
coordinator determines that funding is available for the
coordinator determines that funding is available for participation
in the program by additional campuses.  Provides that this
subsection expires August 31, 1996.  Deletes the requirement of the
state coordinator to designate no more than 32 elementary schools
and 76 secondary schools to participate in the program.

(B) Requires the state coordinator, to determine participation in
the second year of the 1996-1997 state fiscal biennium and
subsequently, to implement a formula for the funding of CIS
campuses that reduces, over a five-year period beginning September
1, 1996, the funds annually contributed by the state to an amount
not less than 50 percent of the amount contributed by the state for
funding of the program in the first year of the 1996-1997 state
fiscal biennium.  Requires the formula to consider the financial
resources of individual communities and school districts. 
Authorizes savings accomplished through the implementation of the
formula to be used to extend participation in the program to
additional campuses in areas that are participating in the program
and to campuses in areas that have not previously participated in
the program.  Deletes language concerning additional schools
participation in the program.

(C) Requires each local program to develop a five-year funding plan
for campuses located in the county or city that participate in the
program under which levels of service to those campuses are
maintained as the proportion of state funding is reduced.  Deletes
existing Subsection (C).

(D) Authorizes a program to accept federal funds, state funds,
private contributions, grants, and public and school district funds
to support a campus participating in the program.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 16.152, Education Code, by adding
Subsection (p), as follows:

(p) Requires the commissioner of education, from the total amount
of funds appropriated for allotments under this section, in each
year of the 1996-1997 state fiscal biennium, to withhold $16.3
million or a greater amount as determined in the General
Appropriations Act and distribute that amount of the program under
Chapter 216, Labor Code.  Requires the commissioner, after
deducting the amount withheld under this subsection from the total
amount appropriated for the allotment under Subsection (A) of this
section, to reduce each district's tier one allotments in the same
manner described for a reduction in allotments under Section 16.254
of this code.  Provides that this subsection expires August 31,
1997.

SECTION 3.  (A) Provides that in addition to the changes in law
made by this Act to the CIS program, this Act conforms Section
216.021, Labor Code, to certain changes made by Section 1, Chapter
183, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993.

(B) Provides that to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.

SECTION 4.  Provides that notwithstanding Section 311.025,
Government Code, this Act prevails over any revision,
recodification, or reenactment of Titles 1 and 2, Education Code,
by the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, including SB 1. 

SECTION 5.  Effective Date:  September 1, 1995

SECTION 6.  Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

SB 194 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May
19, 1995.  The bill was reported favorably, without amendment, with
the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote
of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.