SRC-DPW H.B. 2307 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2307 76R8400 BDH-DBy: Keffer (Sibley) Education 5/12/1999 Engrossed DIGEST This bill would create a staff development account in the general revenue fund and authorizes the commissioner of education to allocate funds from the account to provide staff development resources to a district that is rated academically unacceptable, has one or more low-performing campuses, or otherwise needs assistance. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2307 creates a staff development account in the general revenue fund to provide assistance to certain low-performing school districts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 21.453(d), Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21J, Education Code, by adding Section 21.453, as follows: Sec. 21.453. STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT. Provides that the staff development account (account) is an account in the general revenue fund. Sets forth the composition of the account. Authorizes the funds in the account to be used only as provided by this section. Authorizes the commissioner of education and a person designated by the commissioner (commissioner) to allocate funds from the account to regional education service centers to provide staff development resources to school districts that are rated academically acceptable; have one or more campuses rated as low-performing; or are otherwise in need of assistance, as determined by the commissioner. Requires a school district that receives resources under this section to pay to the commissioner for deposit in the account an amount equal to one-half of the cost of the resources provided to the district. Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules governing the allocation and use of funds under this section. SECTION 2. Amends Section 39.075(c), Education Code, to authorize the commissioner to take action under Sections 39.131(a)(1) through (8) if the commissioner determines that the action is necessary to improve any aspect of a district's performance, regardless of whether the commissioner lowers the district's accreditation rating. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.