By Hochberg H.B. No. 8
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to compensation and preparation of public school teachers
1-3 and the financing thereof.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Title 2, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Chapter 47 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 47. EDUCATOR PAY RAISE ALLOTMENT.
1-8 Sec. 47.001. Definition. In this chapter, "educator" means
1-9 all classroom teachers or full-time librarians.
1-10 Sec. 47.002. Educator Pay Raise Allotment. (a) For each
1-11 year, a school district is guaranteed a specific allotment in state
1-12 funds for a certain number of cents of tax effort to pay for raises
1-13 for educators. The allotment is the lesser of:
1-14 (1) ((ERGL-AL) X RAISE X SBC)/AL
1-15 where:
1-16 "ERGL" is the educator raise guaranteed level of state and
1-17 local funds per weighted student per cent of tax effort, which is
1-18 $42 or a greater amount for any year provided by the Appropriations
1-19 Act;
1-20 "AL" is the dollar amount of state and local funds raised per
1-21 weighted student per cent of tax effort, which is the greater of:
2-1 (i) GL, as defined in Section 42.301;
2-2 (ii) the quotient of the district's taxable
2-3 value of property as determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403,
2-4 Government Code, divided by 10,000;
2-5 (iii) the quotient of the equalized wealth
2-6 level, as defined in Section 41.002, divided by 10,000; or
2-7 (iv) the quotient of the wealth level, as
2-8 defined in 41.002(e), divided by 10,000.
2-9 "WADA" is weighted average daily attendance as defined in
2-10 Section 42.302.
2-11 "RAISE" is the pay raise factor, which, for 2000-2001, is
2-12 .05, or a greater number to be specified in the Appropriations Act,
2-13 and which, for 2001-2002, is .10, or a greater number to be
2-14 specified in the Appropriations Act. For years thereafter, RAISE
2-15 shall be no less than the fund amount per weighted average daily
2-16 attendance paid by the state in 2001-2002 share, or a greater
2-17 number as specified in the Appropriations Act;
2-18 "SBC" is the school district's reported cost for all salaries
2-19 and benefits paid the second year of the preceding biennium to its
2-20 educators, as reported through the Public Education Information
2-21 Management System, under rules adopted by the commissioner; or:
2-22 (2) the maximum amount the district increases its
2-23 salaries and benefits for current year classroom teachers and
2-24 full-time librarians, not including the cost of increases required
2-25 under a policy adopted by a Board of Trustees for the 1998-1999
3-1 school year as that policy would apply if applicable or readopted
3-2 for
3-3 (c) Districts subject to Section 41.003, who choose options
3-4 (3) or (4) of that section, shall have the cumulative cost of
3-5 purchasing average daily attendance credits or contracting for the
3-6 education of nonresident students reduced by the amount of the
3-7 allotment, defined in subsection (a), in lieu of receiving the
3-8 allotment under this Chapter.
3-9 (e) If the allotment, as defined in subsection (a), is
3-10 greater than the cumulative cost of purchasing average daily
3-11 attendance credits or contracting for the education of nonresident
3-12 students, a district shall not be required to achieve the equalized
3-13 wealth level and shall receive that portion of the allotment that
3-14 exceeds the cumulative amount.
3-15 (f) If AL, for a given district, exceeds ERGL, as these
3-16 terms are defined in subsection (a), the district shall not receive
3-17 an allotment under this section.
3-18 SECTION 2. Section 42.007, Education Code, is amended to
3-19 read:
3-20 (c) The funding elements must include:
3-21 (1) a basic allotment for the purposes of Section
3-22 42.101 that, when combined with the guaranteed yield component
3-23 provided by Subchapter F, represents the cost per student of a
3-24 regular education program that meets all mandates of law and
3-25 regulation;
4-1 (2) adjustments designed to reflect the variation in
4-2 known resource costs and costs of education beyond the control of
4-3 school districts;
4-4 (3) appropriate program cost differentials and other
4-5 funding elements for the programs authorized under Subchapter C,
4-6 with the program funding level expressed as dollar amounts and as
4-7 weights applied to the adjusted basic allotment for the appropriate
4-8 year;
4-9 (4) the maximum guaranteed level of qualified state
4-10 and local funds per student for the purposes of Subchapter F;
4-11 (5) the enrichment and facilities tax rate under
4-12 Subchapter F;
4-13 (6) the computation of students in weighted average
4-14 daily attendance under Section 42.302; [and]
4-15 (7) the amount to be appropriated for the school
4-16 facilities assistance program under Chapter 46[.] ; and
4-17 (8) the amount to be appropriated for the educator pay
4-18 raise allotment under Chapter 47.
4-19 (d) The board shall conduct a study on the funding elements
4-20 each biennium, as appropriate. This should include a study of the
4-21 cost to the state each biennium to ensure that each school district
4-22 could maintain existing programs at existing tax rates assuming no
4-23 student growth without raising local property taxes.
4-24 SECTION 3. Section 403.302(d), Government Code, as amended
4-25 by Chapters 1039, 1040, and 1071, Acts of the 75th Legislature,
5-1 Regular Session, 1997, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:
5-2 (d) for purposes of this section, "taxable value" means the
5-3 market value of all taxable property less:
5-4 (1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead
5-5 exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) or (c), Tax
5-6 Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school
5-7 district;
5-8 (2) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
5-9 before May 31, 1993, within the reinvestment zone under agreements
5-10 authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;
5-11 (3) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount
5-12 of any captured appraised value of property that is located in a
5-13 reinvestment zone [on August 31, 1999], [that] generates a tax
5-14 increment paid into a tax increment fund, and is eligible for tax
5-15 increment financing under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a
5-16 reinvestment zone financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d),
5-17 Tax Code, before September 1, 1999.
5-18 (4) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
5-19 under Section 11.251, Tax Code;
5-20 (5) the difference between the comptroller's estimate
5-21 of the market value and the productivity value of land that
5-22 qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity,
5-23 except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may
5-24 not exceed the fair market value of the land;
5-25 (6) the portion of the appraised value of residence
6-1 homesteads of the elderly on which school district taxes are not
6-2 imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as
6-3 if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value
6-4 required by law;
6-5 (7) a portion of the market value of property not
6-6 otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of
6-7 action required by statute or the constitution of this state that,
6-8 if the tax rate adopted by the district is applied to it, produces
6-9 an amount equal to the difference between the tax that the district
6-10 would have imposed on the property if the property were fully
6-11 taxable at market value and the tax that the district is actually
6-12 authorized to impose on the property, if this subsection does not
6-13 otherwise require that portion to be deducted;
6-14 (8) the market value of all tangible personal
6-15 property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or
6-16 individual and not hold or used for the production of income;
6-17 (9) the appraised value of property the collection of
6-18 delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax
6-19 Code;
6-20 (10) the portion of the appraised value of property
6-21 the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under
6-22 Section 33.065, Tax Code; and
6-23 (11) the amount by which the market value of a
6-24 residence homestead to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies
6-25 exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated under
7-1 that section.
7-2 SECTION 4. Sections 403.302(e)-(g), Government Code, are
7-3 amended to read as follows:
7-4 (e) Subsection (d)(3) applies only to the captured appraised
7-5 value of:
7-6 (1) real property that is located in the reinvestment
7-7 zone before September 1, 1999; or
7-8 (2) an improvement to real property described by
7-9 Subdivision (1), regardless of the date the improvement is made.
7-10 (f) The study shall determine the values as of January 1 of
7-11 each year.
7-12 (g) [f] The comptroller shall publish preliminary findings,
7-13 listing values by district, before February 1 of the year following
7-14 the year of the study. Preliminary findings shall be delivered to
7-15 each school district and shall be certified to the commissioner of
7-16 education.
7-17 (h) [g] On request of the commissioner of education or a
7-18 school district, the comptroller may audit a school district to
7-19 determine the total taxable value of property in the school
7-20 district, including the productivity values of land only if the
7-21 land qualifies for appraisal on that basis and the owner of the
7-22 land has applied for and received a productivity appraisal. The
7-23 comptroller shall certify the comptroller's findings to the
7-24 commissioner.
7-25 SECTION 5. Section 403.303(a), Government Code, is amended
8-1 to read as follows:
8-2 (a) A school district or a property owner whose property is
8-3 included in the study under Section 403.302 and whose tax liability
8-4 on the property is $100,000 or more may protest the comptroller's
8-5 findings under Section 403.302(g) [403.302(f)] or (h) [(g)] by
8-6 filing a petition with the comptroller. The petition must be filed
8-7 not later than the 40th day after the date on which the
8-8 comptroller's findings are certified to the commissioner of
8-9 education and must specify the grounds for objection and the value
8-10 claimed to be correct by the school district or property owner.
8-11 SECTION 6. Section 44.004, Education Code, is amended to
8-12 read:
8-13 Section 44.004. Notice, Hearing and Vote on Budget Meeting;
8-14 Budget Adoption and Tax Rate.
8-15 (b) The president shall provide for the publication of
8-16 notice of the budget and proposed tax rate meeting in a daily,
8-17 weekly, or biweekly newspaper published in the district. If no
8-18 daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper is published in the district,
8-19 the president shall provide for the publication of notice in at
8-20 least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in which
8-21 the district's central administration office is located. [Notice
8-22 published under this subsection is in addition to notice required
8-23 by other law.] Notice under this subsection shall be published not
8-24 earlier than the 30th day or later than the 10th day before the
8-25 date of the hearing. [A district may include the notice required
9-1 under Section 26.06, Tax Code.]
9-2 The Notice of Public Hearing to Discuss Budget and Proposed
9-3 Tax Rate may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a
9-4 standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the
9-5 notice must be in 18-point or larger type. The notice must:
9-6 (1) contain a statement in the following form:
9-7 "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS BUDGET
9-8 AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
9-9 "The (name of the taxing unit) will hold a public hearing at
9-10 (time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,
9-11 city, state). The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the school
9-12 district's budget which will determine the tax rate that will be
9-13 adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." In
9-14 reduced type shall be printed the following information: "The tax
9-15 rate that is ultimately adopted at this hearing or at a separate
9-16 hearing at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown
9-17 below without publication of a revised notice containing the same
9-18 information and comparisons set out below."
9-19 (2) contain the following section to be entitled:
9-20 "Comparison of Proposed Rates with Current Year's Adopted Rates",
9-21 which shall calculate the tax rates in (A-C), expressed as an
9-22 amount per $100, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"
9-23 "Interest & Sinking," and "Total":
9-24 (A) the unit's "Adopted tax rate for the
9-25 preceding year";
10-1 (B) the "Tax rate required to maintain the same
10-2 level of maintenance & operations revenue and pay debt service;"
10-3 and
10-4 (C) and the "Proposed Tax Rate;
10-5 Plus a fourth column that calculates the Total Revenue Per Student
10-6 for each row, by dividing the district taxable value of property,
10-7 as determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code,
10-8 divided by the number of students in average daily attendance.
10-9 This section shall contain an asterisk after each calculation
10-10 for Interest & Sinking plus an explanation at the bottom of the
10-11 section that shall say "The Interest and Sinking Tax Revenue is
10-12 used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction and/or
10-13 equipment. The bonds, and the rate necessary to pay those bonds,
10-14 were approved by the voters of this district in elections held
10-15 (dates of elections)."
10-16 (3) contain the following section, to be entitled:
10-17 "Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average
10-18 Residence", that will contain information, rounded to the nearest
10-19 dollar, for the previous year and the current year for the same
10-20 residence for the following categories:
10-21 (A) "Average Appraised Value of Residences"
10-22 (B) "Average Taxable Value of Residences, after
10-23 Homestead Exemptions"
10-24 (C) "Last Year's Rate versus Proposed Rate per
10-25 $100 value"
11-1 (D) "Taxes Due on Average Residence";
11-2 (4) contain the following information:
11-3 "Increase/Decrease in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which
11-4 is calculated by subtracting last year's taxes due on average
11-5 residence with this year's taxes due on average residence under the
11-6 proposed rate.
11-7 (5) contain the statement in bold print: "Under state
11-8 law, the school taxes due on the homestead of anyone over the age
11-9 of 65 years old cannot be increased above the amount paid in the
11-10 first year after turning 65 years of age, regardless of changes in
11-11 tax rate."
11-12 (8) contain the following statement in bold print:
11-13 "Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can
11-14 adopt before requiring voter approval via an election is (previous
11-15 year tax rate + $.08). This election will be automatically held if
11-16 the district adopts a rate in excess of the rollback rate of
11-17 (previous year tax rate + $.08)."
11-18 (9) contain the following section entitled: "Fund
11-19 Balances" which will include the following information:
11-20 (A) Fund Balance to be spent in this budget;
11-21 (B) Fund Balance Texas Education Agency
11-22 Recommends to be Maintained;
11-23 (C) Designated Unreserved Fund Balance for
11-24 Future Construction; and
11-25 (D) Excess Fund Balance.
12-1 SECTION 7. Section 26.06, Tax Code is amended to read:
12-2 (b) All units, except school districts who shall follow
12-3 requirements in Section 44.004, Education Code, shall post a notice
12-4 regarding the public hearing. The notice of a public hearing may
12-5 not be smaller than one-quarter page of a standard-size or a
12-6 tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the notice must be in
12-7 18-point or larger type. The notice must:
12-8 (1) contain a statement in the following form:
12-9 "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE
12-10 "The (name of the taxing unit) will hold a public hearing on
12-11 a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the
12-12 tax roll by (percentage by which taxes to be imposed under proposed
12-13 tax rate exceed last year's levy) percent. Your individual taxes
12-14 may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable
12-15 value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value
12-16 of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.
12-17 "The public hearing will be held on (date and time) at
12-18 (meeting place).
12-19 "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how
12-20 each voted on the proposal to consider the increase in total tax
12-21 revenues or, if one or more were absent, indicating the
12-22 absences.)"; and
12-23 (2) contain the following information:
12-24 (A) the unit's adopted tax rate for the
12-25 preceding year and the proposed tax rate, expressed as an amount
13-1 per $100;
13-2 (B) the difference, expressed as an amount per
13-3 $100 and as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the
13-4 proposed tax rate compared to the adopted tax rate for the
13-5 preceding year;
13-6 (C) the average appraised value of a residence
13-7 homestead in the taxing unit in the preceding year and in the
13-8 current year; the unit's homestead exemption, other than an
13-9 exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of
13-10 age or older, applicable to that appraised value in each of those
13-11 years; and the average taxable value of a residence homestead in
13-12 the unit in each of those years, disregarding any homestead
13-13 exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of
13-14 age or older;
13-15 (D) the amount of tax that would have been
13-16 imposed by the unit in the preceding year on a residence homestead
13-17 appraised at the average appraised value of a residence homestead
13-18 in that year, disregarding any homestead exemption available only
13-19 to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older;
13-20 (E) the amount of tax that would be imposed by
13-21 the unit in the current year on a residence homestead appraised at
13-22 the average appraised value of a residence homestead in the current
13-23 year, disregarding any homestead exemption available only to
13-24 disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older, if the
13-25 proposed tax rate is adopted; and
14-1 (F) the difference between the amounts of tax
14-2 calculated under Paragraphs (D) and (E), expressed in dollars and
14-3 cents and described as the annual increase or decrease, as
14-4 applicable, in the tax to be imposed by the unit on the average
14-5 residence homestead in the unit in the current year if the proposed
14-6 tax rate is adopted.
14-7 (c) The notice may be delivered by mail to each property
14-8 owner in the unit, or it may be published in a newspaper. If the
14-9 notice is published in a newspaper, it may not be in the part of
14-10 the paper in which legal notices and classified advertisements
14-11 appear.
14-12 (d) At the public hearing the governing body shall announce
14-13 the date, time, and place of the meeting at which it will vote on
14-14 the proposed tax rate to increase total tax revenues. After the
14-15 hearing, units except school districts which follow Section 44.004,
14-16 Education Code, [it] shall give notice of the meeting at which [it]
14-17 these units will vote on the proposed tax rate to increase total
14-18 tax revenues and the notice shall be in the same form as prescribed
14-19 by Subsections (b) and (c), except that it must state the
14-20 following:
14-21 "NOTICE OF VOTE ON TAX RATE"
14-22 "The (name of the taxing unit) conducted a public hearing on
14-23 a proposal to increase the total tax revenues of the (name of the
14-24 taxing unit) by (percentage by which taxes to be imposed under
14-25 proposed tax rate exceed last year's levy ) percent on (date and
15-1 time public hearing was conducted).
15-2 "The (governing body of the taxing unit) is scheduled to vote
15-3 on the tax rate that will result in that tax increase at a public
15-4 meeting to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place)."
15-5 (e) The meeting to vote on the increase may not be
15-6 earlier than the third day or later than the 14th day after the
15-7 date of the public hearing. The meeting must be held inside the
15-8 boundaries of the unit in a publicly owned building or, if a
15-9 suitable publicly owned building is not available, in a suitable
15-10 building to which the public normally has access. If the governing
15-11 body does not adopt a rate that would impose an amount of taxes
15-12 that exceeds last year's levy by the 14th day, it must give a new
15-13 notice under Subsection (d) before it may adopt a rate that would
15-14 impose an amount of taxes that exceeds last year's levy.
15-15 (f) The comptroller by rule shall prescribe the
15-16 language and format to be used in the part of the notice required
15-17 by Subsection (b)(2), except for school districts that follow
15-18 Section 44.004, Education Code. A notice under Subsection (b) is
15-19 not valid if it does not substantially conform to the language and
15-20 format prescribed by the comptroller under this subsection.
15-21 SECTION 8. SECTION 42.102, Education Code, shall be amended
15-22 to read:
15-23 (a) The basic allotment for each district is adjusted to
15-24 reflect the geographic variation in known resource costs and costs
15-25 of education due to factors beyond the control of the school
16-1 district.
16-2 (b) The cost of education adjustment is determined by
16-3 adjusting the cost of education index [adjustment] adopted by the
16-4 foundation school fund budget committee and contained in Chapter
16-5 203, Title 19, Texas Administrative Code, as that chapter existed
16-6 on March 26, 1997, to reflect the most recent available data.
16-7 (c) Repealed by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1071, eff. Sept.
16-8 1, 1997.
16-9 SECTION 9. SECTION 57.043, Utilities Code, is amended by
16-10 adding subsection (y) as follows:
16-11 (y) for the years 2000-2003, money appropriated to the board
16-12 shall fund training for all Texas public school teachers in the use
16-13 of computers and technology for administrative and curriculum
16-14 enhancement purposes.
16-15 SECTION 9. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding
16-16 Subchapter K to read as follows:
16-17 SUBCHAPTER K. TEACH FOR TEXAS PROGRAM.
16-18 Sec. 21.500. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Teach For Texas
16-19 program is to attract individuals to the teaching profession that
16-20 otherwise might not teach because of certain financial and other
16-21 barriers.
16-22 Sec. 21.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, 'program'
16-23 means the Teach For Texas program.
16-24 Sec. 21.502. DUTIES OF BOARD. The board by rule shall
16-25 develop the Teach For Texas program pursuant to the guidelines in
17-1 this subchapter.
17-2 Sec. 21.503. STRUCTURE OF PROGRAM. The program shall be two
17-3 tiered, with the professional tier targeted at individuals
17-4 currently employed in other professions who have expressed an
17-5 interest in teaching, and the student tier targeted towards
17-6 university students entering their sophomore and junior years.
17-7 Sec. 21.504. FEATURES OF PROFESSIONAL TIER. The
17-8 professional tier of the program shall focus on recruiting
17-9 qualified professionals currently employed in other fields who have
17-10 expressed an interest in teaching and whose skills are easily
17-11 translated to the classroom. The board shall develop certification
17-12 requirements for these participants that:
17-13 (1) maximize the use of current skills of the
17-14 participants;
17-15 (2) limit the necessity of leaving current
17-16 professional employment to pursue certification under the program;
17-17 (3) maximize the use of integrated coursework as
17-18 described by Sec. 21.507; and
17-19 (4) do not compromise the integrity of educator
17-20 certification in Texas.
17-21 Sec. 21.505. FEATURES OF STUDENT TIER. The student tier of
17-22 the program shall focus on recruiting qualified students enrolled
17-23 in Texas public universities, colleges, or junior colleges who have
17-24 expressed an interest in teaching. The board shall develop
17-25 certification requirements for these participants that:
18-1 (1) maximize the use of integrated coursework as
18-2 described by Sec. 21.507; and
18-3 (2) do not compromise the integrity of educator
18-4 certification in Texas.
18-5 Sec. 21.504. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. The program shall offer
18-6 financial incentives, including tuition assistance and loan
18-7 forgiveness, for participants in both tiers of the program. The
18-8 financial incentives shall be structured within the following
18-9 guidelines:
18-10 (1) receipt of financial assistance shall be expressly
18-11 linked to the execution of a binding contract between the
18-12 participant and the board obligating the participant to teach for a
18-13 certain length of time after certification;
18-14 (2) participants shall receive financial assistance in
18-15 proportion to the length of time of their commitment to teaching
18-16 after certification; and
18-17 (3) special incentives shall be given for participants
18-18 who through their contract agree to teach in underserved areas.
18-19 Sec. 21.505. OTHER PROVISIONS OF PROGRAM. The program also
18-20 shall:
18-21 (1) allow participants to complete their fieldwork
18-22 requirements in summer school when possible;
18-23 (2) take into account the special needs of substitute
18-24 teachers and create incentives for substitute teachers to become
18-25 certified; and
19-1 (3) offer health insurance to individuals who leave
19-2 employment to complete their fieldwork requirements.
19-3 Sec. 21.506. OUTREACH. The board, in conjunction with other
19-4 education-related state agencies, shall conduct a coordinated media
19-5 campaign to educate professionals and students about the program.
19-6 The campaign shall emphasize, at a minimum:
19-7 (1) the importance of teaching as a profession;
19-8 (2) the short-term nature of the program; and
19-9 (3) the value of the experience offered by the
19-10 program.
19-11 Sec. 21.507. INTEGRATED COURSEWORK. The Higher Education
19-12 Coordinating Board shall develop curriculum guidelines for courses
19-13 that integrate subject material with pedagogy material with the
19-14 goal of minimizing duplicative and unnecessary coursework in the
19-15 pursuit of certification.
19-16 SECTION 10. Not later than the beginning of the 2000-2001
19-17 academic year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
19-18 provide the curriculum guidelines described in Sec. 21.507 to
19-19 universities, colleges, and junior colleges. These courses shall
19-20 be offered beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year.
19-21 SECTION 11. Section 823.401, Government Code, is amended by
19-22 adding a new subsection (j) to read as follows:
19-23 (j) The board of trustees of the retirement system may adopt
19-24 rules providing for the establishment of service credit under this
19-25 section through the transfer of contributions made on behalf of a
20-1 member eligible under subsection (a) of this section pursuant to a
20-2 reciprocal agreement with the state or territory of the member's
20-3 prior employment.
20-4 SECTION 12. This Act takes effect August 31, 1999.
20-5 SECTION 13. The importance of this legislation and the
20-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
20-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
20-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
20-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
20-11 passage, and it is so enacted.