84R9563 CAE-D

By: Watson S.B. No. 1140

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a technology allotment for public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 31.001, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 31.001. FREE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Instructional materials selected for use in the public schools shall be furnished without cost to the students attending those schools. Except as provided by Section 31.104(d), a school district may not charge a student for instructional material or technological equipment purchased by the district with the district's instructional materials allotment or technology allotment.

SECTION 2. Section 31.152(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A school trustee, administrator, or teacher commits an offense if the person accepts a gift, favor, or service that:

(1) is given to the person or the person's school;

(2) might reasonably tend to influence a trustee, administrator, or teacher in the selection of instructional material or technological equipment; and

(3) could not be lawfully purchased with state instructional materials funds or the technology allotment under Section 32.006.

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 32.006 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.006. TECHNOLOGY ALLOTMENT. (a) Each school district is entitled to an allotment of $15 for each student in average daily attendance or a different amount for any year provided by appropriation.

(b) An allotment under this section may be used only to:

(1) provide for the purchase by school districts of technological equipment that contributes to student learning; and

(2) pay:

(A) to provide access to technological equipment for instructional use; and

(B) the salary and other expenses of an employee who provides technical support for the use of technological equipment directly involved in student learning.

(c) The allotment under this section may not be paid from the state instructional materials fund established under Section 31.021 or otherwise affect the amount of a school district's instructional materials allotment under Section 31.0211. The allotment may be paid from:

(1) the available school fund; or

(2) any other fund that may be used for that purpose and that is identified in the General Appropriations Act as the source of payment of the allotment.

(d) An open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an allotment under this section.

SECTION 4. Section 41.124(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A school district that receives tuition for a student from a school district with a wealth per student that exceeds the equalized wealth level may not claim attendance for that student for purposes of Chapters 42 and 46, [and] the instructional materials allotment under Section 31.0211, and the technology allotment under Section 32.006.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.