BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1759

By: Smithee

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that school districts should have more flexibility to partner with entities for the design, improvement, or construction of an instructional or athletic facility. H.B. 1759 seeks to provide this flexibility with respect to contracting with a county.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1759 amends the Education Code to authorize an independent school district and any county in which any territory included in the district is located to contract for the district to contribute district resources to pay a portion of the costs of the design, improvement, or construction of an instructional facility or stadium or other athletic facility owned by, on the property of, or under the control of the county. The bill conditions a district's authority to contribute district resources on the district and county entering into a written agreement authorizing the district to use that facility. The bill establishes that such a contract entered into before the construction of a facility does not violate the prohibition against the board of trustees of an independent school district using state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.