SRC-TAG C.S.S.B. 206 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS  

Senate Research Center C.S.S.B 206
78R2214 ESH-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
Education
5/1/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Since 1990, the permanent school fund (PSF) has grown by more than 100
percent with a significant increase in both realized and unrealized
capital gains.  However, the benefit to schools of the available school
fund (ASF), which consists of certain income deriving from the PSF and
motor fuel taxes, has remained flat, and appears to be declining.
C.S.S.B. 206 allows the PSF to be managed under a total return approach to
allow the fund to benefit from capital gains.  

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 Sections 43.001(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows: 

(a)  Provides an exception to the provisions of this subsection regarding
the composition of the permanent school fund (PSF). 

(b)  Changes the composition of the available school fund (ASF) by adding
the distributions to the fund from the permanent school fund as provided
by Section 5(a), Article VII, Texas Constitution, and by deleting interest
and dividends arising from any securities or funds belonging to the PSF,
all interest derivable from the proceeds of the sale of land set apart for
the PSF, and all money derived from the lease of land belonging to the
PSF, as components of the ASF. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 43.002, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec.  43.002.  New heading:  TRANSFERS FROM PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND AND
GENERAL REVENUE FUND TO AVAILABLE SCHOOL FUND.  (a)  Requires the
comptroller of public accounts, on the first working day of each month in
a state fiscal year, to transfer from the permanent school fund to the
available school fund an amount equal to one-twelfth of the annual
distribution from the permanent school fund to the available school fund
as provided by Section 5(a), Article VII, Texas Constitution, for the
fiscal year.  

(a-1)  Requires the comptroller for the fiscal year beginning September 1,
2003, notwithstanding Subsection (a), to transfer from the permanent
school fund to the available school fund  on January 2, 2004, an amount
equal to five-twelfths of the annual distribution from the permanent
school fund to the available school fund for that fiscal year as provided
by Section 5(g), Article VII, Texas Constitution; and on the first working
day of each month after January 2004, an amount equal to one-twelfth of
the annual distribution from the permanent school fund to the available
school fund for that fiscal year as provided by Section 5(g),  Article
VII, Texas Constitution. 

(a-2)  Provides that Subsection (a-1) and this subsection expire September
1, 2004. 

   (b)  Creates this subsection from existing text.

SECTION 3.   Amends Section 31.301(e), Natural Resources Code, to require
the appropriate board, before approving the trade, to make a finding that
no loss to the permanent school fund, rather than available school fund,
or the available university fund will occur as a result of the trade. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Sections 33.016, 51.069, 51.300, Natural Resources
Code,  as follows: 

Sec.  33.016.  Requires the money received by the school land board
(board) for the grant of any interest not under Section 33.015, rather
than not under Sections 33. 014 or 33.015, of this code to be deposited in
the State Treasury to the credit of the permanent school fund, rather than
the available school fund. 

Sec.  51.069.  Requires the payments on public land received by the
commissioner of the general land office (commissioner), including payments
received as interest on the purchase of public land, to be transmitted to
the comptroller to be credited to the permanent school fund.  Deletes text
requiring the comptroller to credit payment received on the purchase price
of public school land  and payments received as interest on the purchase
of public school land to the available school fund. 

 Sec.  51.300.  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 51.401(b), Natural Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 52.137(b), Natural Resources Code, to delete
text regarding certain protest payments. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 52.297(d), Natural Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 53.155(d), Natural Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Section 5, Chapter 314, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1959 (Article  5337-2, V.T.C.S), to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 10.  Repealer:  Section 43.008, Education Code (Treatment of
Premium and Discount). 

SECTION 11.  Provides that this Act takes effect January 1, 2004, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003, relating to the use of income and appreciation of the
permanent school fund, is approved by the voters.  Provides that if the
proposed constitutional amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act
has no effect.