By:  Truitt                                                       H.B. No. 1564


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of municipal funds for the acquisition of land or acquisition, construction, expansion, or renovation of facilities for an open-enrollment charter school. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 12.101(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) In accordance with this subchapter, the State Board of Education may grant a charter on the application of an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter school to operate in a facility of a commercial or nonprofit entity, an eligible entity, or a school district, including a home-rule school district. In this subsection, "eligible entity" means: (1) an institution of higher education as defined under Section 61.003; (2) a private or independent institution of higher education as defined under Section 61.003; (3) an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3)); or (4) a governmental entity. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 12.131 to read as follows: Sec. 12.131. USE OF MUNICIPAL FUNDS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL LAND OR FACILITIES. A municipality to which a charter is granted under this subchapter may borrow funds, issue obligations, or otherwise spend its funds to acquire land or acquire, construct, expand, or renovate school buildings or facilities or related improvements for its open-enrollment charter school in the same manner the municipality is authorized to borrow funds, issue obligations, or otherwise spend its funds in connection with any other public works project. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.