SRC-DPW S.B. 596 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 596 By: Nelson Education 4/5/1999 As Filed DIGEST Over the past five years, more than 80 percent of all student enrollment growth has been concentrated in just 12 percent of Texas school districts. These "fast-growth" districts grew at an average rate of 17 percent, as compared to 4 percent for the other districts of the state. In order to meet increased demands for facilities, fast-growth districts issue bonds and raise taxes on a near-constant basis. Fast-growth districts bear more than 70 percent of all outstanding school debt. This bill would create a facilities allotment that would make fast-growth school districts eligible for funding for new instructional facilities. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 596 requires a school district to receive an additional Foundation School Program allotment for the establishment or expansion of instructional facilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 42.106(d), Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 42B, Education Code, by adding Section 42.106, as follows: Sec. 42.106. INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES OPENING OR EXPANSION ADJUSTMENT. (a) Provides that a school district is entitled to an additional allotment for operational expenses associated with opening a new or expanding an existing instructional facility. Defines "instructional facility." (b) Requires a district to receive an additional allotment of $500 per student in attendance for the year in which a district opens a new instructional facility; and for the following year receive an additional allotment of $500 per student in excess of the number of students in attendance at the facility for the preceding year. (c) Requires a district that expands an existing instructional facility to accommodate an increase of 10 percent or more in attendance to receive an additional allotment of $250 per student in excess of the number of students in weighted average daily attendance from the preceding year. (d) Authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.