By Keffer                                             H.B. No. 1568
         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 school finance.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 42.252(e), Education Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           [(e)  The commissioner shall hear appeals from school
 1-7     districts that have experienced a rapid decline in tax base used in
 1-8     calculating the local fund assignment, exceeding four percent of
 1-9     the preceding year, that is beyond the control of the board of
1-10     trustees of the district.  The commissioner, to the extent
1-11     appropriations for that purpose are available, may adjust the
1-12     district's taxable values for local fund assignment purposes for
1-13     such losses in value exceeding four percent and thereby adjust the
1-14     local fund assignment to reflect the local current year taxable
1-15     value.  The decision of the commissioner is final.  An adjustment
1-16     does not affect the local fund assignment of any other school
1-17     district.  This subsection applies to determinations by the
1-18     commissioner in identifying districts with wealth per student
1-19     exceeding the equalized wealth level pursuant to Section 41.004.]
1-20           (e)  The commissioner shall adjust, by the amount of the
1-21     decline, the DPV of a school district that experiences a decline
 2-1     from the preceding year in its taxable value used to calculate its
 2-2     local fund assignment that is beyond the control of the board of
 2-3     trustees of the district.  This adjustment may only be paid from
 2-4     funds specifically appropriated for that purpose.  Such an
 2-5     adjustment does not affect the local fund assignment of any other
 2-6     district.  This subsection applies to determinations by the
 2-7     commissioner in identifying districts with wealth per student
 2-8     exceeding the equalized wealth level pursuant to Section 41.004.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  Section 42.302, Education Code is amended by
2-10     adding a new subsection 42.302(c) to read as follows:
2-11           (c)  In determining both a district's "DTR" and "LR", the
2-12     commissioner shall adjust, by the amount of the decline, the
2-13     taxable value of a district that experiences a decline from the
2-14     preceding year in its taxable value of property as determined under
2-15     Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code.  This adjustment may
2-16     only be paid from funds specifically appropriate for that purpose.
2-17     Such an adjustment does not affect the GYA of any other district.
2-18           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-19           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.