This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

                                                                                

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.