HBA-MSH H.B. 1738 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1738
By: Kitchen
Public Education
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

While costs related to operation and maintenance of school transportation
have changed, no comprehensive study of school transportation has been done
in recent years.  Allocations of resources and planning based on these
older studies may be incorrect and based on outdated information.  House
Bill 1738 requires the Texas Education Agency in cooperation with the
Legislative Budget Board to conduct a study relating to the costs of
providing transportation services for public school students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1738 amends law to require the Texas Education Agency (agency)
in cooperation with the Legislative Budget Board to conduct a study
relating to the costs of providing transportation services for public
school students.  The bill requires the agency to include in the study a
comparison of the transportation costs in urban, suburban, and rural school
districts and counties, an analysis of the costs of providing
transportation services to students enrolled in magnet schools, an analysis
of trends in student attendance that affect transportation costs or
services, and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
The bill requires the agency to report the results of the study not later
than December 1, 2002.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.