By Junell H.B. No. 1797
75R7105 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the adjustment for declining property values for a
1-3 school district above the equalized wealth level.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 41.002(b) and (c), Education Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (b) For [Except as provided by Subsection (c), for] purposes
1-8 of this chapter, the commissioner shall adjust[, by the amount of
1-9 the decline,] the taxable values of a school district that
1-10 experiences a decline from the preceding year in the tax base used
1-11 in calculating taxable values that is beyond the control of the
1-12 board of trustees of the district to the extent the decline exceeds
1-13 four percent of the preceding year's taxable values.
1-14 (c) The commissioner may adjust the taxable values of a
1-15 school district to reflect that portion of a decline described by
1-16 Subsection (b) that is equal to or less than four percent, but [The
1-17 amount of money necessary to replace funds made unavailable to the
1-18 Foundation School Program by operation of Subsection (b) may be
1-19 paid] only if [from] funds are specifically appropriated to replace
1-20 funds made unavailable to the Foundation School Program by the
1-21 adjustment [for that purpose]. If a sufficient amount of money is
1-22 not appropriated to fully replace funds made unavailable to the
1-23 Foundation School Program by operation of this subsection
1-24 [Subsection (b)], the adjustment to the taxable values of property
2-1 equal to or less than four percent [in each district to which
2-2 Subsection (b) applies] shall be modified proportionately for each
2-3 district to the extent necessary [so that the amount of funds made
2-4 unavailable is equal to the amount appropriated to replace those
2-5 funds].
2-6 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-7 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.