HBA-MPM H.B. 2359 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2359 By: Olivo Public Education 3/29/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Investment Capital Fund (ICF) was created in 1993 by the Texas Legislature to assist schools which are committed to improving student achievement and partnerships between parents and community members. ICF provides grants of up to $50,000 per year to any eligible school for staff development, parent education and training, and student enrichment. It is anticipated than more than 300 school will participate in the program during the coming biennium. Currently, the commissioner of education (commissioner) has no specific authority to make rules with respect to operation of ICF. H.B. 2359 authorizes the commissioner to develop appropriate rules for the administration of ICF. Additionally, this bill eliminates the statutory prohibition against more than 25 percent of the funds being used for strategies to extend and enrich student learning beyond the regular school day. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill expressly delegates rulemaking authority to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 7.024, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 7.024(b) and (d), Education Code, as follows: (b) Authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt necessary rules to effectively administer the investment capital fund, in addition to make grants from the fund to eligible schools. (d) Deletes the authorization for no more than 25 percent of the grant from the fund to be used to implement strategies developed by the partners that are designated to enrich or extend student learning experiences outside of the regular school day. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.