By: Campbell, Paxton S.B. No. 1575
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to state savings and government efficiency through a
  taxpayer savings grant program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 42, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANTS
         Sec. 42.501.  TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)"Eligible student" means a school-age child who
  resides in the state and who:
                     (A)  is entering kindergarten or first grade; or
                     (B)  attended a public school for all of the
  academic year immediately preceding initial participation in the
  program, or is a prior participant in the program.
         (b)  A parent or legal guardian of an eligible student who
  agrees to accept reimbursement in an amount that is less than the
  state average maintenance and operations expenditures per student
  may receive reimbursement from the state for the tuition paid for
  the enrollment of the eligible student at a private school in an
  amount that is the lesser of:
               (1)  the tuition paid; or
               (2)  60 percent of the state average maintenance and
  operations expenditures per student.
         (c)  Money from the available school fund and federal funds
  may not be used for reimbursement under this section.
         (d)  Private schools that parents voluntarily choose to
  attend, with or without governmental assistance, will not be
  required to comply with any state law or regulation governing its
  educational program that was not in effect on January 1, 2013."
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable, but not later than the
  45th day after the effective date of this Act, the comptroller, in
  coordination with the commissioner of education, shall adopt rules
  to implement the Taxpayer Savings Grant Program under Section
  42.501, Education Code, as added by this Act, including rules to
  prevent fraud in financial transactions under the program and to
  determine the net savings resulting from implementation of the
  program. Such regulations shall reconcile payments to all schools
  within the same fiscal year, or one month after.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013, 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 effect on that
  date, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislation session.