By: Shapleigh, et al. S.B. No. 127

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Communities In Schools program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 33.154, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 33.154. DUTIES OF STATE DIRECTOR. The state director shall:

(1) coordinate the efforts of the Communities In Schools program with other social service organizations and agencies and with public school personnel to provide services to students who are at risk of dropping out of school or engaging in delinquent conduct, including students who are in family conflict or emotional crisis;

(2) set standards for the Communities In Schools program and establish state performance goals, objectives, and measures for the program, including performance goals, objectives, and measures that consider improvement in student:

(A) behavior;

(B) academic achievement; and

(C) promotion, graduation, retention, and dropout rates;

(3) obtain information to determine accomplishment of state performance goals, objectives, and measures;

(4) promote and market the program in communities in which the program is not established;

(5) help communities that want to participate in the program establish a local funding base; and

(6) provide training and technical assistance for participating communities and programs.

SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.1541 to read as follows:

Sec. 33.1541. FAILURE TO ACHIEVE PERFORMANCE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND MEASURES. Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter, if the commissioner determines that a Communities In Schools program consistently fails to achieve the performance goals, objectives, and measures established by the state director under Section 33.154(2), the commissioner may withhold funding from that program and require the program to compete through a competitive bidding process to receive funding to participate in the program.

SECTION 3. Section 33.155, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 33.155. [DEPARTMENT] COOPERATION WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, INC.; AGENCY POLICIES [MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING]. (a) The agency[, the department,] and Communities In Schools, Inc. shall work together to maximize the effectiveness of the Communities In Schools program.

(b) The commissioner [agency and the department] shall adopt policies concerning [develop and agree to a memorandum of understanding to clearly define the responsibilities of the agency and of the department under this subchapter. The memorandum must address]:

(1) the responsibility [roles] of the agency [and department] in encouraging local business to participate in local Communities In Schools programs;

(2) the responsibility [role] of the agency in obtaining information from participating school districts;

(3) the use of federal or state funds available to the agency [or the department] for programs of this nature; and

(4) other areas concerning the program identified by the agency [and the department that require clarification].

(c) The commissioner [agency and the department] shall adopt rules to implement the policies described by Subsection (b) [memorandum] and shall update the [memorandum and] rules annually.

SECTION 4. Section 42.152, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:

(u) From the total amount of funds appropriated for allotments under this section, the commissioner shall, each fiscal year, 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, and distribute that amount as provided by Section 33.156. After deducting the amount withheld under this subsection from the total amount appropriated for the allotment under Subsection (a), the commissioner shall reduce each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a reduction in allotments under Section 42.253 and shall allocate funds to each district accordingly.

SECTION 5. Subdivision (1), Section 33.151, Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.