BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2487

By: Smithee

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a prohibition against the use of school district employees, property, or resources to design, construct, or renovate real property that the district does not own or lease unless the district partners with an institution of higher education to construct certain facilities places a burden on an independent school district's flexibility to partner with other entities to design, improve, or construct an instructional or athletic facility. H.B. 2487 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2487 amends the Education Code to authorize an independent school district and a municipality located wholly or partially in the boundaries of a county in which the district is located to contract for the district to contribute district resources to pay a portion of the costs of the design, improvement, or construction of an instructional facility, stadium, or other athletic facility owned by, on the property of, or under the control of the municipality. The bill authorizes a district to contribute district resources for this purpose only if the district and municipality enter into a written agreement authorizing the district to use that facility. The bill establishes that an agreement entered into under the bill's provisions or with certain institutions of higher education before the construction of an instructional facility, stadium, or other athletic facility does not violate certain statutory provisions prohibiting electioneering and restricting the use of district funds.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.