By:  Duncan                                           S.B. No. 1489
         99S0677/1                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to public funding for school districts that experience a
 1-2     decline in district property values.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (e), Section 42.252, Education Code,
 1-5     is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (e)  The commissioner shall adjust, by the amount of the
 1-7     [hear appeals from school districts that have experienced a rapid]
 1-8     decline, the DPV, as described by Subsection (a), of a school
 1-9     district that experiences a decline from [in tax base used in
1-10     calculating the local fund assignment, exceeding four percent of]
1-11     the preceding year in its taxable value used to calculate its local
1-12     fund assignment[,] that is beyond the control of the board of
1-13     trustees of the district.  This adjustment may only be paid from
1-14     funds specifically appropriated [The commissioner, to the extent
1-15     appropriations] for that purpose [are available, may adjust the
1-16     district's taxable values for local fund assignment purposes for
1-17     such losses in value exceeding four percent and thereby adjust the
1-18     local fund assignment to reflect the local current year taxable
1-19     value.  The decision of the commissioner is final].  Such an [An]
1-20     adjustment does not affect the local fund assignment of any other
1-21     [school] district.  This subsection applies to determinations by
1-22     the commissioner in identifying districts with wealth per student
1-23     exceeding the equalized wealth level pursuant to Section 41.004.
1-24           SECTION 2.  Section 42.302, Education Code, is amended by
 2-1     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 2-2           (c)  In determining a school district's "DTR" and "LR" under
 2-3     Subsection (a), the commissioner shall adjust, by the amount of the
 2-4     decline, the taxable value of a district that experiences a decline
 2-5     from the preceding year in its taxable value of property as
 2-6     determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code.  This
 2-7     adjustment may only be paid from funds specifically appropriated
 2-8     for that purpose.  Such an adjustment does not affect the GYA, as
 2-9     described under Subsection (a), of any other district.
2-10           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-11           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.