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H.B. No. 1844
AN ACT
relating to a program under which classroom teachers are reimbursed
for personal funds expended on classroom supplies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.413 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.413. CLASSROOM SUPPLY REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. (a)
The commissioner shall establish a reimbursement program under
which the commissioner provides funds to a school district for the
purpose of reimbursing classroom teachers in the district who
expend personal funds on classroom supplies. A school district
must match any funds provided to the district under the
reimbursement program with local funds to be used for the same
purpose.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules for the local
allocation of funds provided to a school district under the
reimbursement program. A school district shall allow each
classroom teacher in the district who is reimbursed under the
reimbursement program to use the funds in the teacher's discretion,
except that the funds must be used for the benefit of the district's
students. A school district may not use funds received under the
reimbursement program to replace local funds used by the district
for the same purpose.
(c) The commissioner shall identify state and federal funds
available for use under the reimbursement program, including funds
subject to the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (20
U.S.C. Section 5891a et seq.), and its subsequent amendments, as
well as consolidated administrative funds.
(d) The commissioner shall establish the reimbursement
program for implementation beginning not later than the 2005-2006
school year. The commissioner may implement the reimbursement
program only if funds are specifically appropriated by the
legislature for the program or if the commissioner identifies
available funds, other than general revenue funds, that may be used
for the program.
(e) The legislature may not appropriate funds from the
general revenue fund for the reimbursement program during the state
fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2007. This subsection expires
September 1, 2007.
SECTION 2. The commissioner of education shall adopt rules
and establish the classroom supply reimbursement program as
required by Section 21.413, Education Code, as added by this Act,
not later than August 1, 2005.
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1844 was passed by the House on May 5,
2003, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1844 on May 30, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1844 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor