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.