88S30967 JTZ-D

By: Thierry H.B. No. 192

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the reimbursement of certain school district classroom teachers for the cost of classroom supplies purchased with personal money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.4145 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.4145. CLASSROOM SUPPLY REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN GRADE LEVELS. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the agency shall distribute to each school district the amount necessary for the district to reimburse each classroom teacher employed by the district who teaches students enrolled at or below the ninth grade level for the cost of classroom supplies purchased by the teacher with the teacher's personal money for the benefit of those students as follows:

(1) for a classroom teacher who teaches students enrolled at or below the sixth grade level, up to $600 per school year; and

(2) for a classroom teacher who teaches students enrolled at the seventh, eighth, or ninth grade level, up to $500 per school year.

(b) A classroom teacher may be reimbursed under the classroom supply reimbursement program established under Section 21.414 for the cost of purchases eligible for reimbursement under that section for which the teacher is not reimbursed under Subsection (a).

(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.