The House Committee on Appropriations

84th Legislature

September 28, 2016

9:00 a.m.

E1.030

Pursuant to a notice posted on September 14, 2016, revised on September 20, 2016, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Otto, at 9:02 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Otto; Ashby; Bell; Capriglione; Gonzales, Larry; Howard; Koop; Miller, Rick; Phelan; Raney; Rodriguez, Justin; Sheffield; Thompson, Laura; VanDeaver; and Walle.

A quorum was present.

The committee met jointly with the House Committee on Public Education to consider interim charges related to school finance including, but not limited to, Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR), recapture and Cost of Education Index (CEI).

The charges are listed below:

Current law requires the elimination on September 1, 2017, of Additional State Aid for Tax Relief (ASATR), which was intended to offset the cost of tax-rate compressions enacted in 2006. Review how this loss of funding would impact school districts.”

Study the use of local property taxes to fund public education and its effects on educational quality and on Texas taxpayers. Specifically, recommend ways to reverse the increasing reliance on recapture payments to fund public education statewide.”

Examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cost of Education Index (CEI). Determine if other mechanisms or methodologies could better achieve the intended purpose of this public school finance driver. Make recommendations for improvements or elimination of the CEI.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative Giddings now present.)

(Representative Hughes now present.)

(Representative Burkett now present.)

(Representative Muñoz, Jr. now present.)

At 4:26 p.m., on the motion of Representative Otto and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. Otto, Chair

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Emily Howell, Clerk