C.S.H.B. 1844 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1844
By: Grusendorf
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND

Currently, many teachers are having to use personal funds in order to
adequately supply their classrooms, and are not being reimbursed for such
expenses. 

           
PURPOSE 

The purpose of C.S.H.B. 1844 is to establish a reimbursement program for
teachers that expend personal funds for classroom supplies. The  funds
provided under this program are to be used solely for the benefit of
students. 

 
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 21.413,
Education Code) and SECTION 2 of this bill. 


ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1844 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of
education (commissioner) to establish a program where a classroom teacher
that expends personal funds for classroom supplies is reimbursed. The bill
requires a school district to match these reimbursement  funds with local
funds. The bill requires that funds provided under this program be used
for the benefit of students and at the discretion of the classroom
teacher. The bill prohibits funds provided under the program from
replacing local funds being used for the same purpose.  

The bill requires the commissioner to adopt rules for the allocation of
funds and to identify state and federal funds eligible for use under this
program. The bill requires the commissioner to establish the reimbursement
program no later than the 2005-2006 school year. The commissioner is
authorized to implement the program only if funds are specifically
appropriated by the legislature for the program or if the commissioner
identifies available funds. 
  

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003. 


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1844 modifies the original by adding provisions that authorize
the commissioner to implement the program only if funds are specifically
appropriated by the legislature for the program or if the commissioner
identifies available funds. C.S.H.B. 1844 modifies the original by
requiring the commissioner to establish the reimbursement program no later
than the 2005-2006 school year.