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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of funding under the foundation school |
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program on the basis of property values that exclude one-half of |
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optional homestead exemptions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 7.062(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if the |
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commissioner certifies that the amount appropriated for a state |
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fiscal year for purposes of Subchapters A and B, Chapter 46, exceeds |
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the amount to which school districts are entitled under those |
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subchapters for that year, the commissioner shall use the excess |
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funds, in an amount not to exceed $20 million in any state fiscal |
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year, for the purpose of making grants under this section. The use |
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of excess funds under this subsection has priority over any |
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provision of Chapter 42 that permits or directs the use of excess |
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foundation school program funds, including Sections 42.2517, |
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42.2521, [42.2522,] and 42.2531. The commissioner is required to |
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use excess funds as provided by this subsection only if the |
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commissioner is not required to reduce the total amount of state |
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funds allocated to school districts under Section 42.253(h). |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.261(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Funds appropriated by the legislature for a tax year for |
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the purpose of reducing a school district's maintenance and |
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operations tax rate and providing state aid under Section 42.2516: |
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(1) are not excess funds for purposes of Section |
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42.2517; |
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(2) are not available for purposes of Section 42.2521 |
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[or 42.2522]; |
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(3) may not be used for purposes of Chapter 46; and |
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(4) may not be provided by the commissioner to a school |
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district for a purpose other than reduction of the district's |
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maintenance and operations tax rate. |
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SECTION 3. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 42.2522, Education Code; and |
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(2) Section 403.302(k), Government Code. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |