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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the applicability to certain school districts of |
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provisions related to the equalized wealth level and state aid for |
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property tax reduction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 41.0041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.0041. APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS TO CERTAIN |
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DISTRICTS. (a) This section applies only to a school district |
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that, in a school year: |
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(1) is entitled to state revenue under Section 42.2516 |
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in an amount equal to or greater than the cost to the district to |
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purchase attendance credits under Subchapter D in an amount |
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sufficient to reduce the district's wealth per student to the |
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equalized wealth level; and |
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(2) has not previously been required to take action |
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under this chapter to reduce its wealth per student to the equalized |
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wealth level. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a school district |
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to which this section applies is not required to: |
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(1) exercise an option under Section 41.003; or |
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(2) conduct an election under Section 41.096. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 41.004(c), a school district to |
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which this section applies may adopt a tax rate without the |
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commissioner's certification that the district has achieved the |
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equalized wealth level. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the commissioner |
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may not take action under Subchapter G or H regarding a school |
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district to which this section applies. |
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(e) The commissioner shall make an initial determination as |
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to whether this section applies to a school district for a school |
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year not later than the July 25 preceding the school year. If the |
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commissioner later determines that this section does not apply to a |
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district: |
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(1) the school district must: |
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(A) execute an agreement to purchase attendance |
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credits under Subchapter D in an amount necessary to reduce the |
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district's wealth per student to the equalized wealth level; and |
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(B) obtain voter approval of the agreement |
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described by Paragraph (A) in an election under Section 41.096; or |
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(2) the commissioner must order: |
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(A) the detachment of property under Subchapter G |
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in an amount to reduce the district's wealth per student to the |
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equalized wealth level; or |
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(B) the consolidation of the district with one or |
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more other districts under Subchapter H. |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.2516, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
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(i-1) For a school district to which Section 41.0041 |
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applies, the amount of state revenue under this section to which the |
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district is entitled is reduced by an amount equal to the cost to |
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the district to purchase attendance credits under Subchapter D, |
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Chapter 41, in an amount sufficient to reduce the district's wealth |
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per student to the equalized wealth level. |
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SECTION 3. The applicability of Chapter 41, Education Code, |
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to a school district for the 2006-2007 or a later school year is |
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determined in compliance with Sections 41.0041 and 42.2516(i-1), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |