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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability of certain school district financial |
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information on districts' Internet websites. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 44, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 44.0031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 44.0031. INTERNET ACCESS TO FINANCIAL DATA. (a) |
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Except as otherwise provided by this section, a school district |
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shall post on the district's Internet website or on an Internet |
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website hosted by the district's business or financial services |
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department for viewing by interested persons a copy of the |
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district's: |
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(1) annual budget; |
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(2) end-of-year financial report; and |
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(3) checking account transaction register. |
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(b) A school district may not include in the district's |
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checking account transaction register under Subsection (a)(3) a |
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check issued to a district employee in payment of salary, wages, or |
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an employment stipend. |
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(c) A school district may not post any information protected |
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by state or federal law regarding confidentiality of health or |
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education records. |
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(d) The superintendent and chief financial officer of a |
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school district shall jointly notify the commissioner when the |
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financial data required under Subsection (a) is available to |
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interested persons. The notification must include information |
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regarding the current and expected costs associated with |
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implementing and maintaining the requirements of this section. |
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(e) If a school district is unable to post all or part of the |
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financial data required under Subsection (a), the superintendent |
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and chief financial officer of the school district shall jointly |
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submit a letter to the commissioner explaining why the district is |
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unable to post the financial data, including the results of any |
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applicable cost analysis performed by or for the district. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2012. |