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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements |
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to the public school finance system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER L. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE |
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Sec. 42.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Public School Finance. |
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Sec. 42.602. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE. |
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(a) The Texas Commission on Public School Finance is established to |
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develop and make recommendations for improvements to the public |
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school finance system. |
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(b) The commission is composed of 18 members, consisting of |
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the following: |
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(1) three members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) five members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) five members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; |
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(4) the chair of the senate committee on education, or |
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a representative designated by the chair; |
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(5) the chair of the senate committee on finance, or a |
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representative designated by the chair; |
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(6) the chair of the house of representatives |
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committee on public education, or a representative designated by |
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the chair; |
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(7) the chair of the house of representatives |
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committee on appropriations, or a representative designated by the |
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chair; and |
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(8) a member of the State Board of Education, as |
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designated by the chair of that board. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), |
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and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the |
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membership of the commission reflects, to the extent possible, the |
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ethnic and geographic diversity of this state and includes at least |
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one of each of the following representatives: |
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(1) an administrator in the public school system; |
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(2) an elected member of the board of trustees of a |
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school district; |
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(3) a public school teacher; |
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(4) a parent of a child enrolled in a public school; |
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(5) a person specializing in special education; |
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(6) a person specializing in bilingual education; |
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(7) a person specializing in career and technology |
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education; |
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(8) a member of the higher education community; |
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(9) a member of the business community; and |
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(10) a member of the civic community. |
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Sec. 42.603. PRESIDING OFFICER. The members of the |
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commission shall elect the presiding officer by a majority vote. |
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Sec. 42.604. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 42.605. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) |
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Staff members of the agency and staff members of the Legislative |
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Budget Board shall provide administrative support for the |
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commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency |
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and to the Legislative Budget Board for that purpose. |
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Sec. 42.606. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues |
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related to the public school finance system, including: |
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(1) the purpose of the public school finance system |
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and the relationship between state and local funding in that |
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system; |
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(2) the appropriate levels of local maintenance and |
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operations and interest and sinking fund tax effort necessary to |
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implement a public school finance system that complies with the |
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requirements under the Texas Constitution; |
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(3) the appropriate levels of instructional |
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facilities funding; and |
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(4) policy changes to the public school finance system |
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necessary to adjust for inflation, economic conditions, student |
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demographics, and the geographic diversity in the state. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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Sec. 42.607. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2018, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve the |
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public school finance system, including any adjustments to funding |
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to account for student demographics. |
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Sec. 42.608. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission shall hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission shall make publicly accessible without |
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charge: |
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(1) live Internet video of all public meetings the |
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commission holds; and |
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(2) through the Internet, not later than 24 hours |
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after each meeting the commission holds, a video recording or other |
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electronic visual and audio recording of the meeting. |
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(c) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 42.609. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. (a) The commission is abolished January 8, 2019. |
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(b) This subchapter expires January 8, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |