SRC-JEC, TAG C.S.H.B. 1363 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1363
78R14185 KSD-FBy: Crownover (Estes)
Education
5/23/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 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. C.S.H.B. 1363 disengages TAMS from the DISD and recognizes that
TAMS has no taxing authority. 

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 Section 105.301, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows: 

(e)  Provides that the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (academy)
is not subject to the provisions of this code, or to the rules of the
Texas Education Agency (TEA), regulating public schools, except that for
each student enrolled, the academy is entitled to allotments from the
foundation school program under Chapter 42 as if the academy were a school
district without a tier one local share for purposes of Section 42.253,
rather than except that the academy has a local share applied that is
equivalent to the local fund assignment of the Denton Independent School
District.    

(f)  Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), if in any
academic year the amount of the allotments under Subsection (e)(3) exceeds
the amount of state funds paid to the academy under this section in the
fiscal year ending August 31, 2003, to set aside from the total amount of
funds to which the school districts are entitled under Section 42.253(c)
an amount equal to the excess amount and to distribute that amount to the
academy.  Requires the commissioner, after deducting the amount set aside
and paid to the academy by the commissioner under this subsection, to
reduce the amount to which each district is entitled under Section
42.253(c) in the manner described by Section 42.253(h).  Provides that a
determination of the commissioner under this section is final and may not
be appealed. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 105.301(e), Education Code, as amended
by this Act, applies beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.