BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 396

By: VanDeaver

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that certain limitations on the authorized uses of the instructional materials and technology allotment may work against ongoing efforts to achieve cost savings in purchasing and tracking instructional materials. H.B. 396 would address this issue by allowing the allotment to be used for interstate freight and shipping costs associated with the purchase of instructional material and for certain inventory software or systems.

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. 396 amends the Education Code to include the purchase of inventory software or systems for storing and accessing instructional materials among the authorized uses of instructional materials and technology allotment funds. The bill expands the types of freight and shipping expenses and related insurance expenses that are expressly included as expenses associated with the purchase of instructional material that may be paid using money in the state instructional materials and technology fund by removing the specification that such expenses are for intrastate freight and shipping.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.