By Shapiro S.B. No. 540
76R4625 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. Subchapter D, Chapter 41, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by amending Sections 41.091 and 41.093 and by adding
1-7 Section 41.0911 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 41.091. DEFINITION; COST OF ACCREDITED EDUCATION. (a)
1-9 In this subchapter, "accredited education" means an education that:
1-10 (1) results in a general diffusion of knowledge;
1-11 (2) achieves the academic goals specified by Section
1-12 4.002; and
1-13 (3) complies with the accreditation standards under
1-14 Subchapter D, Chapter 39.
1-15 (b) The annual cost of an accredited education is $3,900 for
1-16 each student in weighted average daily attendance.
1-17 Sec. 41.0911. AGREEMENT. (a) A school district with a
1-18 wealth per student that exceeds the equalized wealth level may
1-19 execute an agreement with the commissioner to purchase attendance
1-20 credits in an amount sufficient, in combination with any other
1-21 actions taken under this chapter, to reduce the district's wealth
1-22 per student to a level that is equal to or less than the equalized
1-23 wealth level.
1-24 (b) A school district is eligible to purchase attendance
2-1 credits under this subchapter only if the district has an effective
2-2 maintenance and operations tax rate equal to or greater than that
2-3 necessary, when applied to a tax base equal to the equalized wealth
2-4 level, to provide the cost of an accredited education for one
2-5 student.
2-6 Sec. 41.093. COST. [(a)] The cost of each credit is an
2-7 amount equal to the cost of an accredited education [greater of:]
2-8 [(1) the amount of the district's maintenance and
2-9 operations tax revenue per student in weighted average daily
2-10 attendance for the school year for which the contract is executed;
2-11 or]
2-12 [(2) the amount of the statewide district average of
2-13 maintenance and operations tax revenue per student in weighted
2-14 average daily attendance for the school year preceding the school
2-15 year for which the contract is executed].
2-16 [(b) For purposes of this section, a school district's
2-17 maintenance and operations tax revenue does not include any amounts
2-18 paid into a tax increment fund under Chapter 311, Tax Code.]
2-19 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
2-20 school year.
2-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-27 passage, and it is so enacted.