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.