BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3231

By: Bohac

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the uniform financial indicators adopted by the commissioner of education do not always accurately measure the financial health of charter schools operated by a public institution of higher education. C.S.H.B. 3231 seeks to ensure that the indicators used to evaluate certain charter schools accurately measure the financial performance of the schools.

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

C.S.H.B. 3231 amends the Education Code to limit the financial indicators used to evaluate the financial performance of a charter school operated by a public institution of higher education to the uniform financial indicators determined by the commissioner of education by rule as appropriate to accurately measure the financial performance of such charter schools.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3231 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 39.082, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: (j)  Charter schools operated by a public senior college or university shall be evaluated by the indicators under this section, but shall not be assigned a financial accountability rating under subsection (e).  This subsection does not prohibit using indicators under this section for purposes of Section 12.1181.	SECTION 1.  Section 39.082, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows: (e-1)  The financial performance of a charter school operated by a public institution of higher education under Subchapter D or E, Chapter 12, shall be evaluated using only the indicators adopted under this section determined by the commissioner by rule as appropriate to accurately measure the financial performance of such charter schools.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2.  Substantially the same as introduced version.