BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 127
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The goal of the Communities in Schools (CIS) program is to support schools by working with at-risk students to decrease the dropout rate. This program has become the largest dropout prevention program in the state. Initial funding at the program's inception in 1980 was provided by discretionary funding from the federal Job Training Partnership Act. Since 1989, the program has been financed with discretionary funding either from the governor or from the Texas Legislature through an appropriations rider passed each legislative session. Under current law, the Education Code does not specify that funds have to be set aside for the CIS program.
As proposed, S.B. 127 increases funding and creates a mandatory set-aside for CIS within Article 42.152 (Compensatory Education Allotment), Education Code.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 42.152, Education Code, by adding Subsection (u), as follows:
(u) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), from the total amount of funds appropriated for allotments under this section, each fiscal year, to withhold an amount to be determined by the commissioner, but not less than $30 million for prekindergarten through high school programs under Subchapter E, Chapter 33, Education Code (Communities in Schools Program), and to distribute that amount as provided by Section 33.156 (Funding; Expansion of Participation). Requires the commissioner to reduce each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a reduction in allotments under Section 42.253 (Distribution of Foundation School Fund), Education Code, and to allocate funds to each district accordingly after deducting the amount withheld under this subsection from the total amount withheld under this subsection from the total amount appropriated for this allotment under Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.