| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to taking into account the cost of fuel in establishing the |
|
|
transportation allotment for school districts and counties |
|
|
operating public school transportation systems. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(c) Each district or county operating a regular |
|
|
transportation system is entitled to an allotment based on the |
|
|
daily cost per regular eligible student of operating and |
|
|
maintaining the regular transportation system and the linear |
|
|
density of that system. In determining the cost, [the commissioner
|
|
|
shall give consideration to] factors affecting the actual cost of |
|
|
providing these transportation services in each district or county |
|
|
shall be taken into account including, as determined under |
|
|
Subsection (c-1), any increase in the price of gasoline, diesel, or |
|
|
other fuel needed for the transportation system. The average |
|
|
actual cost is to be computed by the commissioner [and included for
|
|
|
consideration by the legislature in the General Appropriations
|
|
|
Act]. The allotment per mile of approved route may not exceed the |
|
|
amount set by appropriation. |
|
|
(c-1) For purposes of Subsection (c), in establishing the |
|
|
allotment per mile of approved route, the cost of gasoline, diesel, |
|
|
and other fuels shall be biennially adjusted for any increases in |
|
|
the cost of those fuels as reflected in the Texas consumer price |
|
|
index, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United |
|
|
States Department of Labor, as follows, whichever is greater: |
|
|
(1) the monthly average percentage increase in the |
|
|
cost of fuel during the 12-month period ending on December 31 of |
|
|
each even-numbered year; or |
|
|
(2) the highest three-month rolling average |
|
|
percentage increase during the 12-month period ending on December |
|
|
31 of each even-numbered year. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |