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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to student weights and the allocation of reductions in |
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funding under the public junior college state finance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 130A.005(d), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The coordinating board may use the emergency rulemaking |
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procedures established under Section 2001.034, Government Code, to |
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adopt rules necessary to align the funding formulas under this |
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chapter with appropriations or other legislative action, subject to |
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Sections 130A.054(f) and (g) and 130A.101(d), (e), (f), and (g). |
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The coordinating board is not required to make the finding |
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described by Section 2001.034(a), Government Code, to adopt rules |
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under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 130A.054, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: |
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(f) The coordinating board shall establish each student |
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weight under Subsection (b) at a value not less than the value in |
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effect for that category of students under that subsection on |
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January 1, 2026. The coordinating board shall adopt rules |
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reinstating those values not later than the 90th day after the |
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effective date of this subsection. |
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(g) The coordinating board may not establish, reduce, or |
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apply a student weight under Subsection (b) in a manner |
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inconsistent with Subsection (f), including for the purpose of |
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aligning the funding formulas under this chapter with |
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appropriations. |
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SECTION 3. Section 130A.101, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: |
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(d) If the amount appropriated for performance tier funding |
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for a state fiscal biennium is less than the total amount to which |
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junior college districts are entitled under this section, the |
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coordinating board shall: |
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(1) determine the amount to which each junior college |
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district is entitled under this section, applying the student |
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weights required by Section 130A.054; and |
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(2) reduce the amount to which each junior college |
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district is entitled by the same percentage, so that each district |
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receives the same proportion of the amount determined for that |
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district under Subdivision (1). |
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(e) In reducing funding under Subsection (d), the |
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coordinating board may not: |
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(1) reduce, disregard, or decline to apply a student |
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weight established under Section 130A.054; |
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(2) reduce the amount determined for a measurable |
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outcome described by Subsection (c) by a percentage different from |
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the percentage applied to any other measurable outcome; or |
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(3) use a method of reduction under which a junior |
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college district receives a reduction that is greater, as a |
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percentage of the amount determined for the district under |
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Subsection (d)(1), because of the number or proportion of students |
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enrolled at or achieving an outcome at the district who are |
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described by Section 130A.054(b). |
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(f) Before adopting a rule under Subsection (d), the |
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coordinating board shall publish on the coordinating board's |
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Internet website and deliver to the governor, the Legislative |
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Budget Board, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the standing committees of each house of the |
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legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education: |
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(1) the amount determined for each junior college |
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district under Subsection (d)(1); |
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(2) the total amount appropriated for performance tier |
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funding for the state fiscal biennium and the amount of the |
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difference between that amount and the total of the amounts |
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determined under Subsection (d)(1); |
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(3) the percentage by which each district's amount is |
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reduced under Subsection (d)(2); and |
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(4) the amount each district is to receive after the |
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reduction. |
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(g) If money is appropriated for performance tier funding |
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for a state fiscal biennium in addition to the amount on which a |
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reduction under Subsection (d) was based, the coordinating board |
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shall distribute that money to the junior college districts whose |
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funding was reduced, in proportion to the amount of the reduction |
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applied to each district, until each district has received the |
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amount determined for the district under Subsection (d)(1). |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply |
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beginning with funding under Chapter 130A, Education Code, for the |
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state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027. |