79R1505 ESH-D

By:  Escobar                                                      H.B. No. 447



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the minimum standard of equity for the public school 
finance system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 42.001, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  In complying with this section, the legislature shall:             
		(1)  appropriate state funds in an amount constituting 
at least 50 percent of the cost of the Foundation School Program; 
and
		(2)  ensure that in any state fiscal year at least 98 
percent of the public school students in this state attend schools 
in school districts that have equal access to the same level of 
funding per student.
	SECTION 2.  Section 42.001(c), Education Code, as added by 
this Act, applies beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.
	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, 2005.