BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2542

By: Gutierrez

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that, in recent years, there has not been a study conducted on school district consolidation in Bexar County with regard to cost savings and efficiency. C.S.H.B. 2542 seeks to direct the Texas Education Agency to conduct such a study.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2542 requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct a study in order to determine if a cost benefit or efficiency would result from the consolidation of school districts in Bexar County. The bill requires TEA, in conducting the study, to consider the consolidation of all school districts with a majority of district territory in Bexar County to one school district and to five school districts. The bill requires TEA, not later than December 1, 2014, to publish the results of the study on TEA's Internet website and to deliver a written report of the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public education, the mayor of San Antonio, and the board of trustees of each school district with a majority of territory in Bexar County. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2015.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2542 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 1. In this Act, "agency" means the Texas Education Agency.
SECTION 1. The Texas Education Agency shall conduct a study to determine whether there is a cost benefit or efficiency to consolidate school districts in Bexar County: (1) Consolidate to one school district; (2) Consolidate to five school districts.	SECTION 2. The agency shall conduct a study to determine if a cost benefit or efficiency would result from the consolidation of school districts in Bexar County. In conducting the study, the agency shall consider the consolidation of all school districts with a majority of district territory in Bexar County to: (1) one school district; and (2) five school districts.
SECTION 2. No later than December 1, 2014, The Texas Education Agency shall: (1) publish the results of the study required by this Act on the commission's available Internet website; and (2) deliver the results of the study required by this Act to: (A) the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each committee of each house of the legislature that has jurisdiction over public education and (B) the Mayor of the City of San Antonio and (C) each Bexar County School District.	SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2014, the agency shall: (1) publish the results of the study on the agency's Internet website; and (2) deliver a written report of the results of the study to: (A) the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public education; (B) the mayor of San Antonio; and (C) the board of trustees of each school district with a majority of territory in Bexar County.
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 4. This Act expires September 1, 2015.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.	SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.