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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the guaranteed level of state and local funds under the |
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existing debt allotment for school districts whose construction or |
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renovation design plans are highly rated for environmental |
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efficiency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 46.032, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the dollar amount |
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guaranteed level of state and local funds per student per cent of |
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tax effort ("EDGL") for purposes of that subsection is $37 or a |
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greater amount for any year provided by appropriation for eligible |
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bonds described by Section 46.0321. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 46, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 46.0321 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.0321. GREATER ALLOTMENT FOR CERTAIN BONDS. (a) In |
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this section, "instructional facility" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 46.001. |
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(b) A school district is entitled to an allotment under this |
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subchapter based on the dollar amount guaranteed level of state and |
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local funds per student per cent of tax effort ("EDGL") under |
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Section 46.032(a-1) for the payment of eligible bonds that were |
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issued to construct a new instructional facility or conduct a major |
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renovation of an existing instructional facility if during the |
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design phase of the construction or renovation the design of the |
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proposed construction or renovation was awarded a sufficiently high |
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score, as specified by rule of the State Energy Conservation |
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Office, by an organization that is approved by the State Energy |
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Conservation Office and that provides a program for rating |
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environmental efficiency in the design and construction or |
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renovation of buildings, such as: |
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(1) the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design |
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(LEED) Green Building Rating System; |
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(2) the Texas Collaborative for High Performance |
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Schools (TX-CHPS) Criteria; or |
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(3) the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes |
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program. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office by rule shall: |
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(1) adopt standards an organization must meet to be |
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approved for purposes of Subsection (b); and |
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(2) for each approved organization, specify the |
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overall score required to be awarded by the organization for a |
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construction or renovation design to qualify a school district for |
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entitlement to a greater allotment under Section 46.032(a-1). |
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(d) In determining an overall score to specify under |
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Subsection (c)(2), the State Energy Conservation Office shall |
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consult with an advisory panel that the office has established for |
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that purpose and that includes at least one representative of a |
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school district. The State Energy Conservation Office shall |
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specify scores under Subsection (c)(2) so that the score specified |
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for each organization represents, to the extent practicable, an |
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equal level of environmental efficiency in building or renovation |
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design. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 46.032(a-1) and 46.0321, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, apply only to bonds issued by a school |
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district on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |