81R6822 EAH-D
 
  By: Wentworth S.B. No. 688
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the mitigation of the impact of residential development
  in public school districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle I, Title 2, Education Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 48 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 48.  MITIGATION OF IMPACT OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
         Sec. 48.001.  PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES.  
  (a)  The developer of a proposed residential development containing
  1,000 or more single-family housing units who submits a plat or
  replat of the development or part of the development for approval
  under Chapter 212 or 232, Local Government Code, as applicable,
  shall simultaneously submit the plat or replat to the school
  district in which the proposed residential development is located.
         (b)  If the commissioner determines that a residential
  development described by Subsection (a) is likely to significantly
  increase elementary school student enrollment in a school district
  and that the increase in enrollment warrants the construction of a
  new elementary school facility to accommodate the increased
  elementary school population, the district is entitled to purchase,
  for fair market value, a percentage of the real property acreage
  within the residential development site, as determined by the
  commissioner.
         (c)  The commissioner is not required to make a determination
  under Subsection (b) unless requested to do so by the school
  district in which the proposed residential development is to be
  built.
         (d)  In making a determination regarding the percentage of
  acreage under Subsection (b), the commissioner must provide the
  district the opportunity to purchase at least 15 acres of land.
         Sec. 48.002.  CONDITION OF PLAT APPROVAL OR PERMIT ISSUANCE.  
  A county or municipality may not grant final approval under Chapter
  212 or 232, Local Government Code, as applicable, to a plat or
  replat of a residential development described by Section 48.001(a)
  or part of the development or issue permits required for the
  development described by Section 48.001(a) or part of the
  development unless the developer presents evidence of having:
               (1)  transferred to the school district real property
  acreage as required by Section 48.001(b); or
               (2)  received, in writing, from the district a waiver
  of the district's right to purchase the property as provided by
  Section 48.001(b).
         Sec. 48.003.  USE OF LAND.  A school district may use land
  obtained under Section 48.001(b) only as a location for elementary
  school facilities.
         Sec. 48.004.  DISTRICT LAND.  Any land obtained by a school
  district under Section 48.001(b) is in addition to any other land to
  which the district is entitled under this code.
         Sec. 48.005.  RULES.  The commissioner shall adopt rules
  necessary to administer this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to a residential
  development project that is finally approved by all appropriate
  governmental authorities on or after September 1, 2009.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.