81R1054 PAM-D
 
  By: Zerwas H.B. No. 642
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring the Texas Education Agency to prepare a
  report regarding public education mandates.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 7.033 to read as follows:
         Sec. 7.033.  REPORT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION MANDATES. (a) In
  this section, "public education mandate" means a requirement made
  by federal or state law, including a statute, rule, order, or
  ordinance, that requires a school district to establish, expand, or
  modify an activity in a way that requires the expenditure of revenue
  by the school district that would not have been required in the
  absence of the federal or state law.
         (b)  The agency shall prepare a report that identifies each
  public education mandate that applies in this state. The report
  shall identify each public education mandate individually and
  provide the following information relating to the mandate:
               (1)  the law authorizing the mandate;
               (2)  whether the mandate is fully funded, partially
  funded, or unfunded;
               (3)  whether the funding for the mandate, if any, is
  provided by state funds, federal funds, or a combination of state
  and federal funds;
               (4)  an estimate of any cost required to be paid by the
  state or the school districts, if applicable;
               (5)  whether the mandate duplicates all or part of
  another public education mandate;
               (6)  any conflict between the mandate and any other
  public education mandate; and
               (7)  any recommendation relating to revising or
  eliminating a mandate.
         (c)  The agency shall solicit information relating to public
  education mandates from school districts, school district
  employees, and any other interested person.
         (c-1)  Not later than December 1, 2010, the agency shall
  deliver a copy of the report produced under this section to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and presiding
  officers of the standing committees of each house of the
  legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education. This
  subsection expires January 15, 2011.
         (d)  The agency shall:
               (1)  make the report produced under this section
  available as an electronic document on the agency's Internet
  website; and
               (2)  update the electronic document periodically to
  include any additions or changes to the report.
         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, 2009.