By Sadler                                             H.R. No. 1303

         75R17392 ESH-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State

 1-2     of Texas, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, That House Rule

 1-3     13, Sections 9(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4), Section 9(b)(5), and

 1-4     Sections 9(c)(1), (2), (3), and (5), be suspended in part as

 1-5     provided by House Rule 13, Section 9(f), to enable the conference

 1-6     committee appointed to resolve the differences on House Bill No. 4

 1-7     to consider and take action on the following specific matter:

 1-8           House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4), Section

 1-9     9(b)(5), and Sections 9(c)(1), (2), (3), and (5), are suspended to

1-10     permit the committee to add, change, and delete text and matters

1-11     and to add a complete substitute to H.B. No. 4 to read as follows:

1-12                         ARTICLE 1.  SCHOOL FINANCE

1-13           SECTION 1.01.  Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Education Code, is

1-14     amended by adding Section 41.0011 to read as follows:

1-15           Sec. 41.0011.  COMPUTATION OF WEALTH PER STUDENT FOR

1-16     1997-1998 SCHOOL YEAR.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of

1-17     this chapter, in computing a school district's wealth per student

1-18     for the 1997-1998 school year, a school district's taxable value of

1-19     property under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, is

1-20     determined as if the increase in the homestead exemption under

1-21     Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, and the

1-22     additional limitation on tax increases under Section 1-b(d) of that

1-23     article, as proposed by H.J.R. No. 4, 75th Legislature, Regular

1-24     Session, 1997, had been in effect for the 1996 tax year.

 2-1           (b)  This section expires September 1, 1998.

 2-2           SECTION 1.02.  Section 41.093, Education Code, is amended to

 2-3     read as follows:

 2-4           Sec. 41.093.  COST.  The cost of each credit is an amount

 2-5     equal to the greater of:

 2-6                 (1)  the amount of the district's maintenance and

 2-7     operations [total] tax revenue per student in weighted average

 2-8     daily  attendance for the school year for which the contract is

 2-9     executed; or

2-10                 (2)  the amount of the statewide district average of

2-11     maintenance and operations [total] tax revenue per student in

2-12     weighted average daily attendance for the school year preceding the

2-13     school year for which the contract is executed.

2-14           SECTION 1.03.   Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is

2-15     amended by adding Section 42.2511 to read as follows:

2-16           Sec. 42.2511.  COMPUTATION OF STATE AID FOR 1997-1998 SCHOOL

2-17     YEAR; ADDITIONAL STATE AID.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other

2-18     provision of this chapter, in computing state aid for the 1997-1998

2-19     school year, a school district's taxable value of property under

2-20     Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, is determined as if the

2-21     increase in the homestead exemption under Section 1-b(c), Article

2-22     VIII, Texas Constitution, and the additional limitation on tax

2-23     increases under Section 1-b(d) of that article, as proposed by

2-24     H.J.R. No. 4, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, had been in

2-25     effect for the 1996 tax year.

2-26           (b)  For the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 school years, a school

2-27     district is entitled to additional state aid to the extent that

 3-1     state aid under this chapter based on the determination of the

 3-2     school district's taxable value of property as provided by

 3-3     Subsection (a)  does not fully compensate the district for ad

 3-4     valorem tax revenue that would have been lost due to the increase

 3-5     in the homestead exemption and the additional limitation on tax

 3-6     increases if the increased exemption and additional limitation had

 3-7     been in effect for the 1996 tax year.  The commissioner, using

 3-8     information provided by the comptroller, shall compute the amount

 3-9     of additional state aid to which a district is entitled under this

3-10     subsection.  A determination by the commissioner under this

3-11     subsection is final and may not be appealed.

3-12           (c)  This section expires September 1, 1999.

3-13           SECTION 1.04.  Subtitle I, Title 2, Education Code, is

3-14     amended by adding Chapter 46 to read as follows:

3-15               CHAPTER 46.  INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES ALLOTMENT

3-16           Sec. 46.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "instructional

3-17     facility" means real property, an improvement to real property, or

3-18     a necessary fixture of an improvement to real property that is used

3-19     predominantly for teaching the curriculum required under Section

3-20     28.002.

3-21           Sec. 46.002.  RULES.  (a)  The commissioner may adopt rules

3-22     for the administration of this chapter.

3-23           (b)  The commissioner's rules may limit the amount of an

3-24     allotment under this chapter that is to be used to construct,

3-25     acquire, renovate, or improve an instructional facility that may

3-26     also be used for noninstructional or extracurricular activities.

3-27           Sec. 46.003.  SCHOOL FACILITIES ALLOTMENT.  (a)  For each

 4-1     year, except as provided by Sections 46.005 and 46.006, a school

 4-2     district is guaranteed a specified amount per student in state and

 4-3     local funds for each cent of tax effort, up to the maximum rate

 4-4     under Subsection (b), to pay the principal of and interest on

 4-5     eligible bonds issued to construct, acquire, renovate, or improve

 4-6     an instructional facility.  The amount of state support is

 4-7     determined by the formula:

 4-8              FYA = (FYL X ADA X BTR X 100) - (BTR X (DPV/100))

 4-9     where:

4-10           "FYA" is the guaranteed facilities yield amount of state

4-11     funds allocated to the district for the year;

4-12           "FYL" is the dollar amount guaranteed level of state and

4-13     local funds per student per cent of tax effort, which is $28 or a

4-14     greater amount for any year provided by appropriation;

4-15           "ADA" is the number of students in average daily attendance,

4-16     as determined under Section 42.005, in the district;

4-17           "BTR" is the district's bond tax rate for the current year,

4-18     which is determined by dividing the amount of taxes budgeted to be

4-19     collected by the district for payment of eligible bonds by the

4-20     quotient of the district's taxable value of property as determined

4-21     under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code; and

4-22           "DPV" is the district's taxable value of property as

4-23     determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code.

4-24           (b)  The bond tax rate under Subsection (a) may not exceed

4-25     the rate that would be necessary for the current year, using state

4-26     funds under Subsection (a), to make payments of principal and

4-27     interest on the bonds for which the tax is pledged.

 5-1           (c)  To enable the district to collect local funds sufficient

 5-2     to pay the district's share of the debt service, a district may

 5-3     levy a bond tax at a rate higher than the maximum rate for which it

 5-4     may receive state assistance.

 5-5           (d)  Bonds are eligible to be paid with state and local funds

 5-6     under this section if:

 5-7                 (1)  taxes to pay the principal of and interest on the

 5-8     bonds were first levied in the 1997-1998 school year or a later

 5-9     school year; and

5-10                 (2)  the bonds do not have a weighted average maturity

5-11     of less than eight years.

5-12           (e)  A district may use state funds received under this

5-13     section only to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds for

5-14     which the district received the funds.

5-15           (f)  The board of trustees and voters of a school district

5-16     shall determine district needs concerning construction,

5-17     acquisition, renovation, or improvement of instructional

5-18     facilities.

5-19           (g)  To receive state assistance under this chapter, a school

5-20     district must apply to the commissioner in accordance with rules

5-21     adopted by the commissioner before issuing bonds that will be paid

5-22     with state assistance.  Until the bonds are fully paid or the

5-23     instructional facility is sold:

5-24                 (1)  a school district is entitled to continue

5-25     receiving state assistance without reapplying to the commissioner;

5-26     and

5-27                 (2)  the guaranteed level of state and local funds per

 6-1     student per cent of tax effort applicable to the bonds may not be

 6-2     reduced below the level provided for the year in which the bonds

 6-3     were issued.

 6-4           Sec. 46.004.  LEASE-PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  (a)  A district may

 6-5     receive state assistance in connection with a lease-purchase

 6-6     agreement concerning an instructional facility.  For purposes of

 6-7     this chapter:

 6-8                 (1)  taxes levied for purposes of maintenance and

 6-9     operations that are necessary to pay a district's share of the

6-10     payments under a lease-purchase agreement for which the district

6-11     receives state assistance under this chapter are considered to be

6-12     bond taxes; and

6-13                 (2)  payments under a lease-purchase agreement are

6-14     considered to be payments of principal of and interest on bonds.

6-15           (b)  Section 46.003(b) applies to taxes levied to pay a

6-16     district's share of the payments under a lease-purchase agreement

6-17     for which the district receives state assistance under this

6-18     chapter.

6-19           (c)  A lease-purchase agreement must be for a term of at

6-20     least eight years to be eligible to be paid with state and local

6-21     funds under this chapter.

6-22           Sec. 46.005.  LIMITATION ON GUARANTEED AMOUNT.  The

6-23     guaranteed amount of state and local funds for a new project that a

6-24     district may be awarded in any state fiscal biennium under Section

6-25     46.003 for a school district may not exceed the lesser of:

6-26                 (1)  the amount the actual debt service payments the

6-27     district makes in the biennium in which the bonds are issued; or

 7-1                 (2)  the greater of:

 7-2                       (A)  $100,000; or

 7-3                       (B)  the product of the number of students in

 7-4     average daily attendance in the district multiplied by $250.

 7-5           Sec. 46.006.  SHORTAGE OR EXCESS OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR

 7-6     NEW PROJECTS.  (a)  If the total amount appropriated for a year for

 7-7     new projects is less than the amount of money to which school

 7-8     districts applying for state assistance are entitled for that year,

 7-9     the commissioner shall rank each school district applying by wealth

7-10     per student.  For purposes of this section, a district's wealth per

7-11     student is reduced by 10 percent for each state fiscal biennium in

7-12     which the district did not receive assistance under this chapter.

7-13     The commissioner shall adjust the rankings after making the

7-14     reductions in wealth per student required by this subsection.

7-15           (b)  Beginning with the district with the lowest adjusted

7-16     wealth per student that has applied for state assistance for the

7-17     year, the commissioner shall award state assistance to districts

7-18     that have applied for state assistance in ascending order of

7-19     adjusted wealth per student.  The commissioner shall award the full

7-20     amount of state assistance to which a district is entitled under

7-21     this chapter, except that the commissioner may award less than the

7-22     full amount to the last district for which any funds are available.

7-23           (c)  Any amount appropriated for the first year of a fiscal

7-24     biennium that is not awarded to a school district may be used to

7-25     provide assistance in the following fiscal year.

7-26           (d)  In this section, "wealth per student" means a school

7-27     district's taxable value of property as determined under Subchapter

 8-1     M, Chapter 403, Government Code, divided by the district's average

 8-2     daily attendance as determined under Section 42.005.

 8-3           Sec. 46.007.  REFUNDING BONDS.  A school district may use

 8-4     state funds received under this chapter to pay the principal of and

 8-5     interest on refunding bonds that:

 8-6                 (1)  are issued to refund bonds eligible under Section

 8-7     46.003;

 8-8                 (2)  do not have a final maturity date later than the

 8-9     final maturity date of the bonds being refunded;

8-10                 (3)  may not be called for redemption earlier than the

8-11     earliest call date of the bonds being refunded; and

8-12                 (4)  result in a present value savings, which is

8-13     determined by computing the net present value of the difference

8-14     between each scheduled payment on the original bonds and each

8-15     scheduled payment on the refunding bonds.  The present value

8-16     savings shall be computed at the true interest cost of the

8-17     refunding bonds.

8-18           Sec. 46.008.  STANDARDS.  The commissioner shall establish

8-19     standards for adequacy of school facilities.  The standards must

8-20     include requirements related to space, educational adequacy, and

8-21     construction quality.  All new facilities constructed after

8-22     September 1, 1998, must meet the standards to be eligible to be

8-23     financed with state or local tax funds.

8-24           Sec. 46.009.  PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES ALLOTMENTS.  (a)

8-25     For each school year, the commissioner shall determine the amount

8-26     of money to which each school district is entitled under this

8-27     chapter.

 9-1           (b)  If the amount appropriated for purposes of this chapter

 9-2     for a year is less than the total amount determined under

 9-3     Subsection (a) for that year, the commissioner shall:

 9-4                 (1)  transfer from the Foundation School Program to the

 9-5     instructional facilities program the amount by which the total

 9-6     amount determined under Subsection (a) exceeds the amount

 9-7     appropriated; and

 9-8                 (2)  reduce each district's foundation school fund

 9-9     allocations in the manner provided by Section 42.253.

9-10           (c)  Warrants for payments under this chapter shall be

9-11     approved and transmitted to school district treasurers or

9-12     depositories in the same manner as warrants for payments under

9-13     Chapter 42.

9-14           (d)  As soon as practicable after September 1 of each year,

9-15     the commissioner shall distribute to each school district the

9-16     amount of state assistance under this chapter to which the

9-17     commissioner has determined the district is entitled for the school

9-18     year. The district shall deposit the money in the interest and

9-19     sinking fund for the bonds for which the assistance is received and

9-20     shall adopt a tax rate for purposes of debt service that takes into

9-21     account the balance of the interest and sinking fund.

9-22           (e)  Section 42.258 applies to payments under this chapter.

9-23           (f)  If a school district would have received a greater

9-24     amount under this chapter for the applicable school year using the

9-25     adjusted value determined under Section 42.257, the commissioner

9-26     shall add the difference between the adjusted value and the amount

9-27     the district received under this chapter to subsequent

 10-1    distributions to the district under this chapter.

 10-2          Sec. 46.010.  PROJECTS BY MORE THAN ONE DISTRICT.  If two or

 10-3    more districts apply for state assistance in connection with a

 10-4    joint project at a single location, each district is entitled to a

 10-5    guaranteed facilities yield amount of state and local funds that is

 10-6    20 percent higher than the amount to which the district would

 10-7    otherwise be entitled under Section 46.005.

 10-8          Sec. 46.011.  SALE OF INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITY FINANCED WITH

 10-9    INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES ALLOTMENT.  (a)  If an instructional

10-10    facility financed by bonds paid with state and local funds under

10-11    this chapter is sold before the bonds are fully paid, the school

10-12    district shall send to the comptroller an amount equal to the

10-13    district's net proceeds from the sale multiplied by a percentage

10-14    determined by dividing the amount of state funds under this

10-15    subchapter used to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds

10-16    by the total amount of principal and interest paid on the bonds

10-17    with funds other than the proceeds of the sale.

10-18          (b)  In this section, "net proceeds" means the difference

10-19    between the total amount received from the sale less:

10-20                (1)  the amount necessary to fully pay the outstanding

10-21    principal of and interest on the bonds; and

10-22                (2)  the school district's costs of the sale, as

10-23    approved by the commissioner.

10-24          SECTION 1.05.  Section 21.401, Education Code, is amended by

10-25    adding Subsections (a-3) and (a-4) and amending Subsection (b-1) to

10-26    read as follows:

10-27          (a-3)  For the 1997-1998 school year, an educator employed

 11-1    under a 10-month contract must provide a minimum of 186 days of

 11-2    service.  This subsection expires September 1, 1998.

 11-3          (a-4)  For the 1998-1999 school year, an educator employed

 11-4    under a 10-month contract must provide a minimum of 187 days of

 11-5    service.  This subsection expires September 1, 1999.

 11-6          (b-1)  Subsection (b) applies beginning with the 1999-2000

 11-7    [1997-1998] school year.  This subsection expires January 1, 2000

 11-8    [1998].

 11-9          SECTION 1.06.  Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by

11-10    adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:

11-11          (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 1997-1998 and

11-12    1998-1999 school years, "FSP" for purposes of Subsection (a):

11-13                (1)  includes amounts appropriated in H.B. No. 4, Acts

11-14    of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997; and

11-15                (2)  does not include the following amounts

11-16    appropriated in H.B. No. 1, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular

11-17    Session, 1997:

11-18                      (A)  amounts appropriated under Rider 73

11-19    following appropriations to the Texas Education Agency in Article

11-20    III of that Act; or

11-21                      (B)  amounts appropriated under Section 198 of

11-22    Article IX of that Act.

11-23          (a-2)  Subsection (a-1) and this subsection expire September

11-24    1, 1999.

11-25          SECTION 1.07.  Section 403.302, Government Code, is amended

11-26    by adding Subsections (h) and (i) to read as follows:

11-27          (h)  For purposes of Sections 41.0011 and 42.2511, Education

 12-1    Code, for the 1996 and 1997 tax years, the comptroller shall

 12-2    certify to the commissioner of education:

 12-3                (1)  a final value for each school district computed on

 12-4    a residence homestead exemption under Section 1-b(c), Article VIII,

 12-5    Texas Constitution, of $5,000; and

 12-6                (2)  a final value for each school district computed

 12-7    on:

 12-8                      (A)  a residence homestead exemption under

 12-9    Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, of $15,000; and

12-10                      (B)  the effect of the additional limitation on

12-11    tax increases under Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, Texas

12-12    Constitution, as proposed by H.J.R. No.  4, 75th Legislature,

12-13    Regular Session, 1997.

12-14          (i)  Subsection (h) and this subsection expire September 1,

12-15    1999.

12-16          SECTION 1.08.  Subchapter H, Chapter 42, Education Code, is

12-17    repealed.

12-18          SECTION 1.09.  (a)  For the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 school

12-19    years, the commissioner of education shall increase the entitlement

12-20    under the Foundation School Program of a district that experiences

12-21    additional salary cost resulting from this Act.  The amount of

12-22    additional salary cost shall be computed by determining what the

12-23    district's salary cost for the 1996-1997 school year would have

12-24    been if, for purposes of the minimum salary schedule under Section

12-25    21.402, Education Code, the amount appropriated for the Foundation

12-26    School Program for the 1997-1998 state fiscal year were increased

12-27    by $520 million and comparing that cost and the amount the district

 13-1    was actually required to pay under Section 21.402, Education Code.

 13-2    For this purpose, the commissioner of education shall use 1996-1997

 13-3    employment and salary data as reported through the Public Education

 13-4    Information Management System (PEIMS).

 13-5          (b)  A decision by the commissioner of education under this

 13-6    section is final and may not be appealed.

 13-7          (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, for

 13-8    a school district that entered into an employment contract with an

 13-9    individual before June 15, 1997, that specifies a salary supplement

13-10    or addition to the salary schedule prescribed by law, the salary

13-11    schedule to which the supplement or addition applies is the salary

13-12    schedule prescribed by Section 21.402, Education Code, as that

13-13    section applied for the 1996-1997 school year, except that an

13-14    individual shall be paid at least the minimum salary prescribed by

13-15    Section 21.402, Education Code, as that section applies for the

13-16    1997-1998 school year, for the step to which the individual is

13-17    assigned.  A school district is not required to increase the pay of

13-18    any teacher or full-time librarian except as provided by Section

13-19    21.402, Education Code.

13-20          SECTION 1.10.  In addition to other amounts appropriated for

13-21    the fiscal biennium ending August 31, 1999:

13-22                (1)  the sum of $520 million is appropriated, for the

13-23    fiscal year ending August 31, 1998, from the general revenue fund

13-24    to the Texas Education Agency for purposes of the Foundation School

13-25    Program; and

13-26                (2)  the sum of $520 million, plus the unexpended

13-27    balance of the appropriation described by Subdivision (1) of this

 14-1    section, is appropriated, for the fiscal year ending August 31,

 14-2    1999, from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency

 14-3    for the same purpose.

 14-4          SECTION 1.11.  The amount appropriated in H.B. No. 1, Acts of

 14-5    the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to the Texas Education

 14-6    Agency for Strategy A.2.2.--Maximizing School Facilities, in

 14-7    Article III of that Act, is reduced to $100 million for the fiscal

 14-8    year ending August 31, 1998, and to $100 million, plus the

 14-9    unexpended balance for the fiscal year 1998, for the fiscal year

14-10    ending August 31, 1999.

14-11          SECTION 1.12.  (a)  The amount appropriated in H.B. No. 1,

14-12    Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to the Texas

14-13    Education Agency for Strategy A.2.1.--Foundation School Program, in

14-14    Article III of that Act, is increased by $1 million for each year

14-15    of the fiscal biennium ending August 31, 1999, and the basic

14-16    allotment under Section 42.101, Education Code, is increased to

14-17    $2,396.

14-18          (b)  The amounts appropriated under Rider 73 following the

14-19    appropriations to the Texas Education Agency in Article III, H.B.

14-20    No. 1, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to

14-21    provide transition assistance to school districts affected by an

14-22    increase in the minimum salary schedule are reduced by $36 million

14-23    for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1998, and by $31 million for

14-24    the fiscal year ending August 31, 1999.

14-25          (c)  The amounts appropriated under Section 198, Article IX,

14-26    H.B. No. 1, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997,

14-27    for increases in enrollment growth are increased by $65 million.

 15-1          SECTION 1.13.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of

 15-2    this section, this article takes effect September 1, 1997.

 15-3          (b)  Sections 1.01, 1.03, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.09, 1.10, and

 15-4    1.12 of this Act take effect September 1, 1997, but only if the

 15-5    constitutional amendment proposed by H.J.R. No. 4, 75th

 15-6    Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, is adopted by the voters.  If

 15-7    the proposed amendment is not adopted, Sections 1.01, 1.03, 1.05,

 15-8    1.06, 1.07, 1.09, 1.10, and 1.12 of this Act have no effect.

 15-9                        ARTICLE 2.  PROPERTY TAXES

15-10          SECTION 2.01.  Section 11.13(b), Tax Code, is amended to read

15-11    as follows:

15-12          (b)  An adult is entitled to exemption from taxation by a

15-13    school district of $15,000 [$5,000] of the appraised value of the

15-14    adult's [his] residence homestead, except that $10,000 of the

15-15    exemption does not apply to an entity operating under former

15-16    Chapter 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, or 28, Education Code, as those

15-17    chapters existed on May 1, 1995, as permitted by Section 11.301,

15-18    Education Code.

15-19          SECTION 2.02.  Section 11.26, Tax Code, is amended by

15-20    amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (g) and (h)

15-21    to read as follows:

15-22          (a)  The tax officials shall appraise the property to which

15-23    this section applies and calculate taxes as on other property, but

15-24    if the tax so calculated exceeds the limitation imposed by this

15-25    section, the tax imposed is the amount of the tax as limited by

15-26    this section, except [Except] as otherwise provided by this

15-27    section.  A [Subsection (b) of this section, a] school district may

 16-1    not increase the total annual amount of ad valorem tax it imposes

 16-2    on the residence homestead of an individual 65 years or older above

 16-3    the amount of the tax it imposed in the first tax year the

 16-4    individual qualified that residence homestead for the exemption

 16-5    provided by [Subsection (c) of] Section 11.13(c) [11.13 of this

 16-6    code].  If the first tax year the individual qualified the

 16-7    residence homestead for the exemption provided by Section  11.13(c)

 16-8    was a tax year before the 1997 tax year, the amount of the

 16-9    limitation provided by this section is the amount of tax the school

16-10    district imposed for the 1996 tax year less an amount equal to the

16-11    amount determined by multiplying $10,000 times the tax  rate of the

16-12    school district for the 1997 tax year, plus any 1997 tax

16-13    attributable to improvements made in 1996, other than improvements

16-14    made to comply with governmental regulations or repairs [The tax

16-15    officials shall continue to appraise the property and to calculate

16-16    taxes as on other property, but if the tax so calculated exceeds

16-17    the limitation imposed by this section, the tax imposed is the tax

16-18    imposed in the first year the individual qualified the residence

16-19    homestead for the exemption].

16-20          (b)  If an individual makes improvements to the individual's

16-21    [his] residence homestead, other than improvements required to

16-22    comply with governmental requirements or repairs, the school

16-23    district may increase the tax on the homestead in the first year

16-24    the value of the homestead is increased on the appraisal roll

16-25    because of the enhancement of value by the improvements.  The

16-26    amount of the tax increase is determined by applying the current

16-27    tax rate to the difference in the assessed value of the homestead

 17-1    with the improvements and the assessed value it would have had

 17-2    without the improvements.  A limitation [The limitations] imposed

 17-3    by [Subsection (a) of] this section then applies [apply] to the

 17-4    increased amount of tax until more improvements, if any, are made.

 17-5          (g)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), if an individual

 17-6    who receives a limitation on tax increases imposed by this section

 17-7    subsequently qualifies a different residence homestead for an

 17-8    exemption under Section 11.13, a school district may not impose ad

 17-9    valorem taxes on the subsequently qualified homestead in a year in

17-10    an amount that exceeds the amount of taxes the school district

17-11    would have imposed on the subsequently qualified homestead in the

17-12    first year in which the individual receives that exemption for the

17-13    subsequently qualified homestead had the limitation on tax

17-14    increases imposed by this section not been in effect, multiplied by

17-15    a fraction the numerator of which is the total amount of school

17-16    district taxes imposed on the former homestead in the last year in

17-17    which the individual received that exemption for the former

17-18    homestead and the denominator of which is the total amount of

17-19    school district taxes that would have been imposed on the former

17-20    homestead in the last year in which the individual received that

17-21    exemption for the former homestead had the limitation on tax

17-22    increases imposed by this section not been in effect.

17-23          (h)  An individual who receives a limitation on tax increases

17-24    under this section and who subsequently qualifies a different

17-25    residence homestead for an exemption under Section 11.13, or an

17-26    agent of the individual, is entitled to receive from the chief

17-27    appraiser of the appraisal district in which the former homestead

 18-1    was located a written certificate providing the information

 18-2    necessary to determine whether the individual may qualify for a

 18-3    limitation on the subsequently qualified homestead under Subsection

 18-4    (g) and to calculate the amount of taxes the school district may

 18-5    impose on the subsequently qualified homestead.

 18-6          SECTION 2.03.  Section 26.08, Tax Code, is amended to read as

 18-7    follows:

 18-8          Sec. 26.08.  ELECTION TO RATIFY [LIMIT] SCHOOL TAXES.

 18-9    (a)  If the governing body of a school district adopts a tax rate

18-10    that exceeds the [sum of the] district's rollback tax [effective

18-11    maintenance] rate, [the rate of $0.08, and the district's current

18-12    debt rate,] the registered voters of the district at an election

18-13    held for that purpose must determine whether to approve the adopted

18-14    [limit the] tax rate [the governing body may adopt for the current

18-15    year to the school district rollback tax rate].  When increased

18-16    expenditure of money by a school district is necessary to respond

18-17    to a disaster, including a tornado, hurricane, flood, or other

18-18    calamity, but not including a drought, that has impacted a school

18-19    district and the governor has requested federal disaster assistance

18-20    for the area in which the school district is located, an election

18-21    is not required under this section to approve [limit] the tax rate

18-22    adopted by the governing body [may adopt] for the year following

18-23    the year in which the disaster occurs.

18-24          (b)  The governing body shall order that the [an] election be

18-25    held in the school district on a date not less than 30 or more than

18-26    90 days after the day on which it adopted the tax rate. Section

18-27    41.001, Election Code, does not apply to the election unless a date

 19-1    specified by that section falls within the time permitted by this

 19-2    section.   At the election, the ballots shall be prepared to permit

 19-3    voting for or against the proposition:  "Approving [Limiting] the

 19-4    ad valorem tax rate of $_____ per $100 valuation in (name of school

 19-5    district) for the current year, a rate that is $_____ higher per

 19-6    $100 valuation than [from (the rate adopted) to (]the school

 19-7    district rollback tax rate[)]."  The ballot proposition must

 19-8    include the adopted tax rate and the difference between that rate

 19-9    and the rollback tax rate in the appropriate places.

19-10          (c)  If a majority of the votes cast in the election favor

19-11    the proposition, the tax rate for the current year is the rate that

19-12    was adopted by the governing body.

19-13          (d)  If [a majority of the votes cast in the election favor]

19-14    the proposition is not approved as provided by Subsection (c), the

19-15    governing body may not adopt a tax rate for the school district for

19-16    the current year that exceeds the school district's [district]

19-17    rollback tax rate [calculated for that year using the following

19-18    formula:]

19-19    [ROLLBACK TAX RATE = (ENROLLMENT ADJUSTMENT) (EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE

19-20    AND OPERATIONS RATE FOR TAX YEAR) + $0.08 + CURRENT DEBT RATE

19-21    where:]

19-22                [(1)  "tax year" denotes amounts used in calculating

19-23    the rollback tax rate in the year immediately preceding the year in

19-24    which the tax increase that initiated the referendum occurred

19-25    rather than the year in which the calculation occurs; and]

19-26                [(2)  "enrollment adjustment" is computed by dividing

19-27    the current year's projected fall enrollment, as defined by the

 20-1    Texas Education Agency, by last year's enrollment but may not be

 20-2    less than 1.0].

 20-3          (e) [(d)]  For purposes of this section, local tax funds

 20-4    dedicated to a junior college district under Section 45.105(e),

 20-5    Education Code, shall be eliminated from the calculation of the tax

 20-6    rate adopted by the governing body of the school district.

 20-7    However, the funds dedicated to the junior college district are

 20-8    subject to Section 26.085.

 20-9          (f) [(e)]  If a school district is certified by the

20-10    commissioner of education under Section 42.251(c), Education Code,

20-11    to have been subject to a reduction in total revenue for the school

20-12    year ending on August 31 of the tax year,[:]

20-13                [(1)  the district's effective maintenance and

20-14    operations rate for the tax year is calculated as provided by

20-15    Section 26.012, except that last year's levy is reduced by the

20-16    amount of taxes imposed in the preceding year, if any, to offset

20-17    the amount of the reduction certified by the commissioner; and]

20-18                [(2)]  the district's rollback tax rate for the tax

20-19    year [calculated as provided by Section 26.04 or by Subsection (c),

20-20    as applicable,] is increased by the tax rate that, if applied to

20-21    the current total value for the school district, would impose taxes

20-22    in an amount equal to the amount of the reduction certified by the

20-23    commissioner.

20-24          (g) [(f)]  In a school district that received distributions

20-25    from an equalization tax imposed under former Chapter 18, Education

20-26    Code, the effective rate of that tax as of the date of the county

20-27    unit system's abolition is added to the [district's effective

 21-1    maintenance and operations rate under Subsections (a) and (c) of

 21-2    this section in the calculation of the] district's rollback tax

 21-3    rate.

 21-4          (h) [(i)]  For purposes of this section, increases in taxable

 21-5    values and tax levies occurring within a reinvestment zone under

 21-6    [the provisions of] Chapter 311 (Tax Increment Financing Act), in

 21-7    which the district is a participant, shall be eliminated from the

 21-8    calculation of the tax rate adopted by the governing body of the

 21-9    school district.

21-10          (i)  For purposes of this section, the rollback tax rate of a

21-11    school district is the sum of:

21-12                (1)  the tax rate that, applied to the current total

21-13    value for the district, would impose taxes in an amount that, when

21-14    added to state funds that would be distributed to the district

21-15    under Chapter 42, Education Code, for the school year beginning in

21-16    the current tax year using that tax rate, would provide the same

21-17    amount of state funds distributed under Chapter 42 and maintenance

21-18    and operations taxes of the district per student in weighted

21-19    average daily attendance for that school year that was available to

21-20    the district in the preceding year;

21-21                (2)  the rate of $0.08 per $100 of taxable value; and

21-22                (3)  the district's current debt rate.

21-23          (j)  For the 1997 tax year, the rollback tax rate is the sum

21-24    of:

21-25                (1)  the greater of:

21-26                      (A)  the rate necessary to impose taxes in an

21-27    amount that would provide the same amount of state and local funds

 22-1    per weighted student for maintenance and operations as determined

 22-2    under Subsection (i)(1) for the 1997-1998 school year that was

 22-3    available to the district in the 1996-1997 school year; or

 22-4                      (B)  the district's nominal maintenance and

 22-5    operations tax rate for the 1996 tax year;

 22-6                (2)  the rate of $0.08 per $100 of taxable value; and

 22-7                (3)  the district's current debt rate.

 22-8          (k)  For the 1998 tax year, the rollback tax rate is the sum

 22-9    of:

22-10                (1)  the greater of:

22-11                      (A)  the rate necessary to impose taxes in an

22-12    amount that would provide the same amount of state and local funds

22-13    per weighted student for maintenance and operations as determined

22-14    under Subsection (i)(1) for the 1998-1999 school year that was

22-15    available to the district in the 1996-1997 school year; or

22-16                      (B)  the district's nominal maintenance and

22-17    operations tax rate for the 1996 tax year;

22-18                (2)  the amount by which the district's adopted tax

22-19    rate for the 1997 tax year exceeded the sum of Subsections (j)(1)

22-20    and (j)(3) for that tax year;

22-21                (3)  the rate of $0.08 per $100 of taxable value; and

22-22                (4)  the district's current debt rate.

22-23          (l)  This subsection and Subsections (j) and (k) expire

22-24    January 1, 1999.

22-25          SECTION 2.04.  (a)  Sections 2.01 and 2.02 of this article

22-26    take effect on the date that the constitutional amendment proposed

22-27    by H.J.R. No. 4, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, takes

 23-1    effect, and apply to each tax year that begins on or after January

 23-2    1, 1997.  If that amendment is not approved by the voters, Sections

 23-3    2.01 and 2.02 of this article have no effect.

 23-4          (b)  Section 2.03 of this article takes effect September 1,

 23-5    1997, and applies to the tax rate of a school district that is

 23-6    adopted by the governing body of the district on or after that

 23-7    date.  A school district tax rate adopted before the effective date

 23-8    of Section 2.03 of this article for 1997 taxes is void.

 23-9                        ARTICLE 3.  LOTTERY REVENUE

23-10          SECTION 3.01.  Section 466.015, Government Code, is amended

23-11    by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as

23-12    follows:

23-13          (c)  The commission may adopt rules governing the

23-14    establishment and operation of the lottery, including rules

23-15    governing:

23-16                (1)  the type of lottery games to be conducted;

23-17                (2)  the price of each ticket;

23-18                (3)  the number of winning tickets and amount of the

23-19    prize paid on each winning ticket, except that the total amount of

23-20    prizes awarded under this chapter may not exceed the amount

23-21    described in Subsection (d);

23-22                (4)  the frequency of the drawing or selection of a

23-23    winning ticket;

23-24                (5)  the number and types of locations at which a

23-25    ticket may be sold;

23-26                (6)  the method to be used in selling a ticket;

23-27                (7)  the use of vending machines or electronic or

 24-1    mechanical devices of any kind, other than machines or devices that

 24-2    dispense currency or coins as prizes;

 24-3                (8)  the manner of paying a prize to the holder of a

 24-4    winning ticket;

 24-5                (9)  the investigation of possible violations of this

 24-6    chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter;

 24-7                (10)  the means of advertising to be used for the

 24-8    lottery;

 24-9                (11)  the qualifications of vendors of lottery services

24-10    or equipment;

24-11                (12)  the confidentiality of information relating to

24-12    the operation of the lottery, including:

24-13                      (A)  trade secrets;

24-14                      (B)  security measures, systems, or procedures;

24-15                      (C)  security reports;

24-16                      (D)  bids or other information regarding the

24-17    commission's contracts, if disclosure of the information would

24-18    impair the commission's ability to contract for facilities, goods,

24-19    or services on terms favorable to the commission;

24-20                      (E)  personnel information unrelated to

24-21    compensation, duties, qualifications, or responsibilities; and

24-22                      (F)  information obtained by commission security

24-23    officers or investigators;

24-24                (13)  the development and availability of a model

24-25    agreement governing the division of a prize among multiple

24-26    purchasers of a winning ticket purchased through a group purchase

24-27    or pooling arrangement;

 25-1                (14)  the criteria to be used in evaluating bids for

 25-2    contracts for lottery facilities, goods, and services; or

 25-3                (15)  any other matter necessary or desirable as

 25-4    determined by the commission, to promote and ensure:

 25-5                      (A)  the integrity, security, honesty, and

 25-6    fairness of the operation and administration of the lottery; and

 25-7                      (B)  the convenience of players and holders of

 25-8    winning tickets.

 25-9          (d)  The total amount of lottery prizes that the commission

25-10    may award for all lottery games in any fiscal year may not exceed

25-11    an amount equal to the gross revenue from the sale of tickets in

25-12    that fiscal year multiplied by the percentage amount of lottery

25-13    prizes awarded for all lottery games in fiscal year 1997 as

25-14    determined by the comptroller minus an amount equal to five percent

25-15    of gross lottery revenue for the fiscal year in which the prizes

25-16    are being awarded.

25-17          SECTION 3.02.  Section 466.355(b), Government Code, is

25-18    amended to read as follows:

25-19          (b)  Money in the state lottery account may be used only for

25-20    the following purposes and shall be distributed as follows:

25-21                (1)  the payment of prizes to the holders of winning

25-22    tickets;

25-23                (2)  the payment of costs incurred in the operation and

25-24    administration of the lottery, including any fees received by a

25-25    lottery operator, provided that the costs incurred in a fiscal

25-26    biennium may not exceed an amount equal to 15 percent of the gross

25-27    revenue accruing from the sale of tickets in that biennium;

 26-1                (3)  the establishment of a pooled bond fund, lottery

 26-2    prize reserve fund, unclaimed prize fund, and prize payment

 26-3    account; and

 26-4                (4)  the balance, after creation of a reserve

 26-5    sufficient to pay the amounts needed or estimated to be needed

 26-6    under Subdivisions (1) through (3), to be transferred to the

 26-7    foundation school [unobligated portion of the general revenue]

 26-8    fund, on or before the 15th day of each month.

 26-9          SECTION 3.03.  This article takes effect September 1, 1997.

26-10          SECTION 3.04.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of

26-11    this section, the change in law made to Section 466.015, Government

26-12    Code, by this article applies to a ticket sold on or after the

26-13    effective date of this article.  A ticket sold before that date is

26-14    governed by the law in effect when the ticket was sold, and that

26-15    law is continued in effect for that purpose.

26-16          (b)  In fiscal year 1998, the total amount of lottery prizes

26-17    that the Texas Lottery Commission may award under Section

26-18    466.015(d), Government Code, as added by this article, may not

26-19    exceed an amount equal to the gross revenue from the sale of

26-20    lottery tickets multiplied by the percentage amount of lottery

26-21    prizes awarded for all lottery games in fiscal year 1997 as

26-22    determined by the comptroller minus an amount equal to 4-1/2

26-23    percent of gross lottery revenue for the 1998 fiscal year.

26-24          SECTION 3.05.  The change in law made to Section 466.355,

26-25    Government Code, by this article applies only to a transfer from

26-26    the state lottery account made on or after the effective date of

26-27    this article.

 27-1                           ARTICLE 4.  EMERGENCY

 27-2          SECTION 4.01.  The importance of this legislation and the

 27-3    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 27-4    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 27-5    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 27-6    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

 27-7          Explanation:  This change is necessary to provide for the

 27-8    distribution of available revenue for property tax relief to owners

 27-9    of homestead property, to provide a funding mechanism to compensate

27-10    school districts for the amounts of losses of local revenue

27-11    occurring as a result of the added homestead exemptions and tax

27-12    limitations, to allocate certain funds for school debt service, to

27-13    increase the minimum salary schedule for public school teachers, to

27-14    make, limit, and transfer appropriations for those purposes, to

27-15    provide for the computation of the school tax rollback rate, and to

27-16    increase and dedicate certain revenue from the state lottery.