SRC-AAA S.B. 1873 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1873
By: Bivins
Finance
4-28-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Foundation School Fund Budget Committee (committee)
functions to tell the comptroller how much to set aside for public
education and to adopt the Legislative Budget Board's recommendations for
funding amounts and funding elements in the school finance formulas.  The
legislature can override any committee actions and review the same issues
for the appropriations bill. S.B. 1873 repeals the Foundation School Fund
Budget Committee and cleans up matters regarding school finance. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1873 repeals the Foundation School Fund Budget Committee
and cleans up matters regarding school finance. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Provides that the foundation school fund budget committee is
abolished. 
  Repealer: Section 42.256, Education Code (Foundation School Fund Budget
Committee). 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.007, Education Code, to require the
Legislative Budget Board (board) to compute qualified funding elements, in
accordance with Subsection (c).  Requires the board before, each regular
session of the legislature, to report on qualified funding elements.
Authorizes the funding elements to include certain matters. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 13.285, Education  Code, to delete text
regarding certain costs. 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 19.007(b), Education Code, to delete text
regarding certain costs. 

SECTION 5. Amends Section 29.256(c), Education Code, to delete text
regarding the foundation school fund budget committee. 

SECTION 6. Amends Section 29.257(a), Education Code, to delete text
regarding  the foundation school fund budget committee. 

SECTION 7. Amends  Section 41.006, Education Code, to delete existing
Subsection (a) regarding rulemaking. 

SECTION 8. Amends Section 42.005(a), Education Code, to delete part of a
calculation of average daily attendance. 

SECTION 9. Amends Section 42.101, Education Code, to delete text regarding
basic allotment. 
 
SECTION 10. Amends Section 42.102(b), Education Code, to make conforming
changes. 

 SECTION 11. Amends Section 42.155(c), Education Code, to delete text
regarding  the foundation school fund budget committee. 

SECTION 12. Amends Section 42.252(e), Education Code, to authorize the
commissioner of education (commissioner) to adjust a district's taxable
values for local fund assignment, to the extent appropriations for that
purpose are available. 

SECTION 13. Amends Sections 42.253(b) and (f), Education Code, to require
the commissioner to base certain determinations on estimates from the
General Appropriations Act.  Makes conforming changes.  

SECTION 14. Amends Section 42.254, Education Code, to require the board to
submit certain estimates no later than September 1 of each year. 

SECTION 15. Amends Section 42.302(a), Education Code, to redefine "GL" as
the dollar amount guaranteed level of state and local funds per weighted
student percent tax effort which is $21, rather than $20.55, or a greater
amount for any year provided by appropriation. 

SECTION 16. Amends Section 42.303, Education Code, to prohibit the
district enrichment and facilities tax rate from exceeding a certain
amount for any year provided by appropriation. 

SECTION 17. Amends Section 74.066(b), Education Code, to delete text
regarding the foundation school fund budget committee. 

SECTION 18. Amends Section 316.002(a), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 19. Amends Section 322.008(b), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 20. Repealer: Section 56.208(d), Education Code (Funding).

SECTION 21. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 22. Emergency clause.