SRC-CTC S.B. 597 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 597
77R3013 CAS-DBy: Shapleigh
Education
4/23/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the state became an active partner in financing the costs of
facility construction and maintenance.  However, the funding formulas that
relate to school facilities exist independently of any weights that direct
varying amounts of dollars to school districts according to the qualities
of the students in each district and the qualities of the district.  As
proposed, S.B. 597 requires the Texas Education Agency to select an
education research group to study the funding of the costs of school
construction and maintenance to determine if there is evidence of variable
facility costs. 
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 46A, Education Code, by adding Section 46.012,
as follows: 

Sec. 46.012.  STUDY OF FUNDING OF FACILITIES.  Requires the commissioner of
education (commissioner), in consultation with the presiding officers of
the House Public Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee, to
select an educational research group with expertise concerning public
school funding to study the funding of facilities necessary to provide a
general diffusion of knowledge among public school students.  Provides that
the study must consider certain items.  Requires the commissioner to select
an educational research group to perform the study not later than December
1, 2001.  Requires the Texas Education Agency to include the results of the
study in a specific report.  Provides that this section expires December
31, 2002. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.