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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the teachers' classroom supply |
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savings account program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.4145 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.4145. TEACHERS' CLASSROOM SUPPLY SAVINGS ACCOUNT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller shall establish and administer a |
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teachers' classroom supply savings account program through which, |
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each school year, the comptroller provides to each eligible teacher |
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a grant of $1,000 to purchase classroom supplies. |
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(b) In administering the program, the comptroller shall |
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maintain a system of online accounts to provide access to the grant |
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described by Subsection (a) to an eligible teacher. |
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(c) A teacher is eligible to participate in the program if |
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the teacher is: |
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(1) employed by a school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school to teach not less than an average of four hours each |
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day in an academic instructional setting or a career and technology |
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instructional setting; and |
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(2) certified under Subchapter B. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a teacher may |
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spend grant money only on classroom supplies to be used by the |
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teacher or the teacher's students at the school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school at which the teacher is employed as |
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described by Subsection (c)(1). |
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(e) The comptroller shall adopt rules to establish a process |
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by which any grant money remaining in a teacher's account at the end |
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of a school year may be rolled over for use by the teacher during the |
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following school year for: |
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(1) the purchase of classroom supplies as described by |
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Subsection (d); or |
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(2) any costs associated with the teacher's |
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professional development. |
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(f) A teacher participating in the program shall retain the |
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receipt for each purchase made using grant money until the second |
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anniversary of the date of purchase. |
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(g) The comptroller shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |