By: Hilderbran (Senate Sponsor - Fraser) H.B. No. 890
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2007;
  May 2, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 10, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 10, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of an irrevocable trust for the proceeds of
  the sale or disposition of county school lands.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 45, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 45.113 to read as follows:
         Sec. 45.113.  TRUST FOR COUNTY PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND. (a)
  Notwithstanding former Subchapter E, Chapter 17, as that subchapter
  existed on May 1, 1995, the commissioners court of a county may:
               (1)  sell or otherwise dispose of county school lands
  in the manner determined by the court;
               (2)  establish an irrevocable trust for the proceeds of
  a sale or other disposition under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  invest the principal of a trust created under
  Subdivision (2) in any investment permitted for other county funds
  under Chapter 2256, Government Code.
         (b)  The members of the commissioners court and their
  successors in office must be the sole trustees of a trust
  established under Subsection (a)(2). The trustees may not delegate
  the authority to manage or invest the trust but may contract with
  qualified persons for investment advice.
         (c)  The principal of a trust established under Subsection
  (a)(2) constitutes a portion of the county permanent school fund
  and must be held in perpetuity for the benefit of the public schools
  in the county. The income of a trust established under Subsection
  (a)(2) constitutes a portion of the county available school fund
  and may be distributed as permitted by law.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2007.
 
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