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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the cost of education adjustment. |
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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 use |
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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 42.102, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The basic allotment for each school district is adjusted |
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to reflect the [geographic variation in known resource costs and] |
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costs of education for [due to factors beyond the control of] the |
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school district using the updated cost of education index provided |
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under Subsection (c). |
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(c) Based on a statistical analysis conducted by the |
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Legislative Budget Board to determine for each school district the |
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current geographic variation in known resource costs and costs of |
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education due to factors beyond the control of the district, the |
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commissioner shall update the cost of education index used for |
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purposes of this section during the 2014-2015 school year. The |
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updated index shall be used for purposes of this section beginning |
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with the 2015-2016 school year. Subsequently, the commissioner |
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periodically may request more current statistical analysis from the |
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Legislative Budget Board and further update as needed the cost of |
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education index used for purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 3. 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 |
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42.2521 or 42.2522; |
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(2) [(3)] may not be used for purposes of Chapter 46; |
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and |
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(3) [(4)] may not be provided by the commissioner to a |
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school district for a purpose other than reduction of the |
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district's maintenance and operations tax rate. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 42.102(b) and 42.2517, Education Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |