BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1363
By: Crownover
Higher Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) currently receives its
allotment from the foundation school program under Chapter 42 as if the
academy were a school district, except that the academy has a local share
applied that is equivalent to the local fund assignment of the Denton
Independent School District (DISD).  Due to increased property values in
the assigned school district,  the allotment TAMS receives continues to
decrease.  However, TAMS does not receive any of the additional property
tax revenue that DISD receives as a result of the increased property
values. As proposed, CSHB 1363 disengages TAMS from the DISD and
recognizes that TAMS has no taxing authority.  CSHB 1363 entitles TAMS to
allotments from the foundation school program under Chapter 42 as if TAMS
were a school district without a tier one local share.  CSHB 1363 also
authorizes the Commissioner of Education to set aside funds from the
foundation school program and appropriate that allotment to TAMS.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

CSHB 1363 amends Section 42.156, Education Code, by adding Subsection (g)
and (h) to provide that the commissioner shall, each fiscal year, withhold
from the total funds appropriated for allotments under this section, an
amount to be determined and distributed by the commissioner to the Texas
Academy of Mathematics and Science under Section 105.301.  The bill
provides that after deducting the amount, the commissioner shall reduce
each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a
reduction in allotments under Section 42.253 and shall allocate funds to
each district accordingly.  The bill provides that a reduction made under
this subsection to an allotment does not affect the computation of
students in weighted average daily attendance for purposes of Subchapter
F. 

CSHB 1363 amends Section 105.301(e) and adds Subsection (f), Education
Code, to remove the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science's  local
share assignment.  The bill provides that the Texas Academy of Mathematics
and Science is to  receive  allotments from the foundation school program
under Chapter 42 as if it were a school district without a tier one local
share.  The bill provides that if in any academic year the amount of the
allotment exceeds $366,825, the portion of the allotments that exceeds
that amount must be funded by the funds set aside by the commissioner
under Section 42.156 (g). 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 1363 modifies the original by authorizing the commissioner to set
aside funds from the foundation school program to fund the Texas Academy
of Mathematics and Science's allotment.