79R338 SLO-D

By:  Seliger                                                      S.B. No. 540


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the computation of wealth per student in certain school districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 41.0021 to read as follows: Sec. 41.0021. WEALTH PER STUDENT IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS NOT SERVING ALL GRADES. (a) Notwithstanding Section 41.002, a school district that in the 1999-2000 school year did not offer each grade level from kindergarten through 12 may elect to have its wealth per student determined under this section. (b) In accordance with a determination of the commissioner, the wealth per student that a school district to which this section applies may have after exercising an option under Section 41.003(2) or (3) is the amount needed to maintain state and local revenue in an amount equal to state and local revenue per weighted student for maintenance and operation of the district for the 1999-2000 school year less the district's current year distribution per weighted student from the available school fund, other than amounts distributed under Chapter 31, if the district imposes an effective tax rate for maintenance and operation of the district equal to the district's tax rate for maintenance and operation for the 1999-2000 school year. For purposes of this subsection, a district's effective tax rate is determined as provided by Section 41.002(f). (c) The commissioner shall: (1) compute the wealth per student levels under this section using weighted average daily attendance as defined by Section 42.302; (2) notify each school district that is eligible to have its wealth per student computed under this section; and (3) establish a date by which a district must elect to have its wealth per student computed under this section. (d) A school district that elects to have its wealth per student computed under this section: (1) is not entitled to state aid to achieve the funding levels permitted by Subsection (b); (2) is not eligible for credit for tuition payments under Section 41.124(b); and (3) is not eligible for an adjustment to the district's taxable value of property under Section 42.106. (e) A limitation on tuition under Section 25.039 does not apply to a school district that elects to have its wealth per student computed under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.