By George H.B. No. 798
76R1527 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the purchase of attendance credits under the foundation
1-3 school program.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 41.091 and 41.093, Education Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 41.091. DEFINITION; COST OF ACCREDITED EDUCATION. (a)
1-8 In this subchapter, "accredited education" means an education that:
1-9 (1) results in a general diffusion of knowledge;
1-10 (2) achieves the academic goals specified by Section
1-11 4.002; and
1-12 (3) complies with the accreditation standards under
1-13 Subchapter D, Chapter 39.
1-14 (b) The annual cost of an accredited education is $3,500 for
1-15 each student in weighted average daily attendance.
1-16 Sec. 41.0911. AGREEMENT. (a) A school district with a
1-17 wealth per student that exceeds the equalized wealth level may
1-18 execute an agreement with the commissioner to purchase attendance
1-19 credits in an amount sufficient, in combination with any other
1-20 actions taken under this chapter, to reduce the district's wealth
1-21 per student to a level that is equal to or less than the equalized
1-22 wealth level.
1-23 (b) A school district is eligible to purchase attendance
1-24 credits under this subchapter only if the district has an effective
2-1 maintenance and operations tax rate equal to or greater than that
2-2 necessary, when applied to a tax base equal to the equalized wealth
2-3 level, to provide the cost of an accredited education for one
2-4 student.
2-5 Sec. 41.093. COST. [(a)] The cost of each credit is an
2-6 amount equal to the cost of an accredited education [greater of:]
2-7 [(1) the amount of the district's maintenance and
2-8 operations tax revenue per student in weighted average daily
2-9 attendance for the school year for which the contract is executed;
2-10 or]
2-11 [(2) the amount of the statewide district average of
2-12 maintenance and operations tax revenue per student in weighted
2-13 average daily attendance for the school year preceding the school
2-14 year for which the contract is executed].
2-15 [(b) For purposes of this section, a school district's
2-16 maintenance and operations tax revenue does not include any amounts
2-17 paid into a tax increment fund under Chapter 311, Tax Code.]
2-18 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
2-19 school year.
2-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-26 passage, and it is so enacted.