78R3154 CAS-D
By: Turner H.B. No. 551
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to open-enrollment charter schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12.1054, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) Not later than September 15 of each year, an
open-enrollment charter school shall provide to the agency a report
that includes the name and a brief biography, including any
substantial business interests, of each individual serving:
(1) on the governing body of the school's charter
holder;
(2) on the governing body of the school; or
(3) as an officer of the school.
SECTION 2. Section 12.110(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The application form must provide for including the
information required under Section 12.111 to be contained in a
charter and, in connection with the information required under
Section 12.111(12), the application form must provide for
specifically describing the manner in which an annual internal and
external audit of the use of state funds received for the school are
to be conducted. The application form also must provide for
including:
(1) a detailed plan concerning the manner in which
state funds received for the school are to be spent;
(2) the name and business address of the person who is
to serve as the school's external auditor;
(3) the name and business address of each person who
will have responsibility for the school's financial operation; and
(4) a description of the system that will be used in
making purchases for the school.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 12.131 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.131. MAXIMUM SALARY. The agency by rule shall adopt
a maximum salary for an officer of an open-enrollment charter
school. The maximum salary must be:
(1) reasonable; and
(2) similar to the salary earned by a person in a
similar position in a noncharter public school.
SECTION 4. Section 12.110(b), Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to an application for an open-enrollment
charter school submitted on or after September 1, 2003.
SECTION 5. (a) Not later than December 31, 2003, the Texas
Education Agency shall establish a maximum salary for officers of
open-enrollment charter schools, as required by Section 12.131,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Section 12.131, Education Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to a salary established under a contract executed on or
after January 1, 2004. A salary established under a contract
executed before January 1, 2004, is governed by the law in effect on
the date the contract was executed, and the former law is continued
in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.