By Cuellar H.B. No. 2321
76R5228 CAS-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a state funding allotment for health insurance and
1-3 other health care benefits for public school employees.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 42.158 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 42.158. EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS ALLOTMENT.
1-8 (a) For each student in average daily attendance, a school
1-9 district is entitled to an annual allotment for employee health
1-10 care benefits of $_____ or a greater amount provided by
1-11 appropriation.
1-12 (b) A school district, other than a home-rule school
1-13 district, may use funds allocated under this section only to
1-14 increase the financial contribution the district makes to provide
1-15 health insurance coverage or other health care benefits for
1-16 employees. A district may use the funds to pay costs supplementary
1-17 to the district's regular health insurance program for employees.
1-18 (c) A home-rule school district or an open-enrollment
1-19 charter school may use funds allocated under this section only to
1-20 provide health insurance coverage or other health care benefits for
1-21 employees.
1-22 SECTION 2. Section 21.402(b), Education Code, is amended to
1-23 read as follows:
1-24 (b) Not later than June 1 of each year, the commissioner
2-1 shall determine the amount appropriated for purposes of Chapter 42
2-2 for the state fiscal year beginning September 1. The commissioner
2-3 shall exclude from the determination:
2-4 (1) amounts designated solely for use in connection
2-5 with school facilities or for payment of principal of and interest
2-6 on bonds; [and]
2-7 (2) local funds received under Subchapter D, Chapter
2-8 41; and
2-9 (3) amounts designated as the health care benefits
2-10 allotment under Section 42.158.
2-11 SECTION 3. Section 42.302(a), Education Code, is amended to
2-12 read as follows:
2-13 (a) Each school district is guaranteed a specified amount
2-14 per weighted student in state and local funds for each cent of tax
2-15 effort over that required for the district's local fund assignment
2-16 up to the maximum level specified in this subchapter. The amount
2-17 of state support, subject only to the maximum amount under Section
2-18 42.303, is determined by the formula:
2-19 GYA = (GL X WADA X DTR X 100) - LR
2-20 where:
2-21 "GYA" is the guaranteed yield amount of state funds to be
2-22 allocated to the district;
2-23 "GL" is the dollar amount guaranteed level of state and local
2-24 funds per weighted student per cent of tax effort, which is $21 or
2-25 a greater amount for any year provided by appropriation;
2-26 "WADA" is the number of students in weighted average daily
2-27 attendance, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the school
3-1 district's allotments under Subchapters B and C, less any allotment
3-2 to the district for transportation and health care benefits and 50
3-3 percent of the adjustment under Section 42.102, by the basic
3-4 allotment for the applicable year;
3-5 "DTR" is the district enrichment and facilities tax rate of
3-6 the school district, which is determined by subtracting the
3-7 amounts specified by Subsection (b) from the total amount of taxes
3-8 collected by the school district for the applicable school year and
3-9 dividing the difference by the quotient of the district's taxable
3-10 value of property as determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403,
3-11 Government Code, divided by 100; and
3-12 "LR" is the local revenue, which is determined by multiplying
3-13 "DTR" by the quotient of the district's taxable value of property
3-14 as determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code,
3-15 divided by 100.
3-16 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-17 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.