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.