SRC-ARR S.B. 591 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 591
76R6200 ESH-DBy: Shapiro
Education
4/6/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, in Texas more than 80 percent student enrollment growth over the
past five years has been concentrated in just 12 percent of the school
districts. Since 1992-1993, these fast growth districts have grown at an
average rate of 17 percent, compared to 4 percent for other districts in
the state. Along with the growing numbers of students comes an increase in
the demands for facilities and budgets to operate them. S.B. 591 provides
funding for school districts that open new schools or expand existing
schools 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 591 provides funding for school districts that open new
schools or expand existing schools and authorizes the commissioner of
education to adopt rules. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION
1(Section 42.158(e), Education Code) of this bill. 
 
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 42C, Education Code, by adding Section 42.158, as
follows: 

Sec. 42.158. NEW OR EXPANDED INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITY ALLOTMENT. Provides
that a school district is entitled to an additional allotment as provided
by this section for operational expenses associated with opening a new or
expanding an existing instructional facility. Provides that for the first
and second school year in which students attend a new instructional
facility, a school district is entitled to an allotment of $500 for each
student in weighted average daily attendance at the facility. Provides that
for the first year that begins following an expansion of instructional
space in an existing instructional facility that is designed to accommodate
an increase of at least 10 percent in the number of students in weighted
average daily attendance at that facility, a district is entitled to an
allotment of $250 for each additional student in weighted average daily
attendance at that facility. Sets forth for the purpose of this section the
formulas for determining the number of students in weighted average daily
attendance and the number of additional students in weighted average daily
attendance at facility.  Authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt
rules necessary to implement this section. Defines "instructional
facility." 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.