BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.S.B. 194
By: Barrientos
Education
4-20-95
Committee Report (Substituted)
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 many problems
facing youth in our communities. With the help of government,
business and social service agencies, Communities In Schools is
helping community leaders address these problems.
PURPOSE
As proposed, C.S.S.B. 194 provides for the operation and expansion
of the Communities in Schools program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.
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 the counties or cities (areas) in which a
Communities in Schools program (program) is located to
designate for participation in the program in the first year
of the 1996-97 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
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 1996-97 state fiscal
biennium and subsequently, to implement a formula for the
funding of Communities in Schools 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 1996-97
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 (commissioner),
from the total amount of funds appropriated for allotments
under this section, in each year of the 1996-97 state fiscal
biennium, to withhold $15.6 million or a greater amount as
determined in the General Appropriations Act and distribute
that amount for 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 Communities in School 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 S.B. 1.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1995.
SECTION 6. Emergency clause.