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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state assistance with the costs of constructing or |
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renovating public high school science laboratories. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.062 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.062. SCIENCE LABORATORY GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "wealth per student" means a school district's taxable |
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value of property as determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, |
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Government Code, or, if applicable, Section 42.2521, divided by the |
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district's average daily attendance as determined under Section |
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42.005. |
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(b) Using funds appropriated for that purpose, the |
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commissioner shall establish a program to provide competitive |
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grants to school districts for the purpose of constructing or |
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renovating high school science laboratories. |
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(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement the program, including rules addressing eligibility, |
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application procedures, and accountability for use of grant funds. |
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(d) The rules must: |
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(1) limit the amount of assistance provided through a |
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grant to not more than: |
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(A) for a construction project, $200 per square |
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foot of the science laboratory to be constructed; or |
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(B) for a renovation project, $100 per square |
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foot of the science laboratory to be renovated; |
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(2) require a school district to demonstrate, as a |
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condition of eligibility for a grant, that the existing district |
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science laboratories are insufficient in number to comply with the |
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curriculum requirements imposed for the recommended and advanced |
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high school programs under Section 28.025(b-1)(1); and |
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(3) provide for ranking school districts that apply |
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for grants on the basis of wealth per student and giving priority in |
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the award of grants to districts with low wealth per student. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |