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  82R9645 VOO-F
 
  By: Eissler H.B. No. 400
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to flexibility for public schools to administer primary
  and secondary education efficiently.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 11.0581, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read
  as follows:
         (b)  Elections held on the same date as provided by
  Subsection (a) shall be held as a joint election under Chapter 271,
  Election Code, except as otherwise provided by this section.
         (c)  The voters of a joint election under this section shall
  be served by:
               (1)  common polling places consistent with Section
  271.003(b), Election Code; or
               (2)  if the election is held on the November uniform
  election date, polling places designated under Section 43.004,
  Election Code.
         (e)  The joint election agreement allocating expenses as
  provided by Section 271.004, Election Code, or a contract for
  election services under Section 31.092, Election Code, must provide
  that a school district is responsible only for the proportion of
  election expenses that corresponds to the proportion that the
  number of registered voters in the school district bears to the
  total number of registered voters in all political subdivisions
  participating in the joint election.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 11.179 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.179.  UNIFORM NOTICE FOR CERTAIN BOARD HEARINGS AND
  MEETINGS. (a)  The board of trustees of a school district shall
  provide notice of a hearing under Sections 39.083 and 39.306 and a
  meeting under Section 44.004 by:
               (1)  sending the notice through e-mail to media serving
  the district;
               (2)  prominently posting the entire notice, in addition
  to any required documents or summaries, on the district's Internet
  website;
               (3)  making the notice, in addition to any required
  documents or summaries, available for public inspection at the
  district's central administrative office; and
               (4)  making the notice, in addition to any required
  documents or summaries, available for public inspection at each
  campus in the district.
         (b)  In addition to providing notice as required by
  Subsection (a), the board may also provide notice as permitted by
  Section 39.083, 39.306, or 44.004, as applicable.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 12.133(b), (b-1), (c), and (d-1),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Each school year, using state funds received by the
  charter holder for that purpose under Subsection (d), a charter
  holder that participated in the program under Chapter 1579,
  Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year shall provide
  employees of the charter holder, other than administrators,
  compensation in the form of annual salaries, incentives, or other
  compensation determined appropriate by the charter holder that
  results in an average compensation increase for classroom teachers,
  full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school
  nurses who are employed by the charter holder [and who would be
  entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a
  school district,] in an amount at least equal to $2,500.
         (b-1)  Using state funds received by the charter holder for
  that purpose under Subsection (d-1), a charter holder that
  participated in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for
  the 2005-2006 school year shall provide employees of the charter
  holder, other than administrators, compensation in the form of
  annual salaries, incentives, or other compensation determined
  appropriate by the charter holder that results in average
  compensation increases as follows:
               (1)  for full-time employees other than full-time
  classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors,
  and full-time nurses [employees who would be entitled to a minimum
  salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school district], an
  average increase at least equal to $500; and
               (2)  for part-time employees, an average increase at
  least equal to $250.
         (c)  Each school year, using state funds received by the
  charter holder for that purpose under Subsection (e), a charter
  holder that did not participate in the program under Chapter 1579,
  Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year shall provide
  employees of the charter holder, other than administrators,
  compensation in the form of annual salaries, incentives, or other
  compensation determined appropriate by the charter holder that
  results in an average compensation increase for classroom teachers,
  full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school
  nurses who are employed by the charter holder [and who would be
  entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a
  school district,] in an amount at least equal to $2,000.
         (d-1)  In addition to any amounts to which a charter holder
  is entitled under this chapter, a charter holder that participated
  in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the
  2005-2006 school year is entitled to state aid in an amount, as
  determined by the commissioner, equal to the sum of:
               (1)  the product of $500 multiplied by the number of
  full-time employees other than full-time classroom teachers,
  full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time nurses
  [employees who would be entitled to a minimum salary under Section
  21.402 if employed by a school district]; and
               (2)  the product of $250 multiplied by the number of
  part-time employees.
         SECTION 4.  Section 19.007(f), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (f)  In addition to other amounts received by the district
  under this section, the district is entitled to state aid in an
  amount equal to the product of $2,000 multiplied by the number of
  classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors
  certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and full-time school
  nurses who are employed by the district [and who would be entitled
  to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school
  district operating under Chapter 11].
         SECTION 5.  Section 19.009(d-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d-1)  Each school year, the district shall pay an amount at
  least equal to $2,000 to each classroom teacher, full-time
  librarian, full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B,
  Chapter 21, and full-time school nurse who is employed by the
  district [and who would be entitled to a minimum salary under
  Section 21.402 if employed by a school district operating under
  Chapter 11]. A payment under this section is in addition to wages
  the district would otherwise pay the employee during the school
  year.
         SECTION 6.  Section 21.0031(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  After an employee receives notice that the employee's
  contract is void under Subsection (a),[:
               [(1)]  a school district may:
               (1) [(A)]  terminate the employee;
               (2) [(B)]  suspend the employee with or without pay; or
               (3) [(C)]  retain the employee for the remainder of the
  school year on an at-will employment basis in a position other than
  classroom teacher at the employee's existing rate of pay or at a
  reduced rate[; and
               [(2)     the employee is not entitled to the minimum
  salary prescribed by Section 21.402].
         SECTION 7.  Section 21.103(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The board of trustees of a school district may terminate
  the employment of a teacher employed under a probationary contract
  at the end of the contract period if in the board's judgment the
  best interests of the district will be served by terminating the
  employment. The board of trustees must give notice of its decision
  to terminate the employment to the teacher not later than [the 45th
  day before] the last day of instruction required under the
  contract.  The notice may be delivered personally to the teacher or
  mailed by regular mail or prepaid certified mail or by an express
  delivery service to the teacher's address of record with the
  district. Notice that is mailed in accordance with this subsection
  is considered given at the time of mailing.  The board's decision is
  final and may not be appealed.
         SECTION 8.  Section 21.157, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 21.157.  NECESSARY REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL. A teacher
  employed under a continuing contract may be released at the end of a
  school year and the teacher's employment with the school district
  terminated at that time because of a necessary reduction of
  personnel by the school district[, with those reductions made in
  the reverse order of seniority in the specific teaching fields].
         SECTION 9.  Section 21.206(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Not later than the [45th day before the] last day of
  instruction in a school year, the board of trustees shall notify in
  writing each teacher whose contract is about to expire whether the
  board proposes to renew or not renew the contract.  The notice may
  be delivered personally to the teacher or mailed by regular mail or
  prepaid certified mail or by an express delivery service to the
  teacher's address of record with the district. Notice that is
  mailed in accordance with this subsection is considered given at
  the time of mailing.
         SECTION 10.  Section 21.211, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A teacher whose term contract is terminated under
  Subsection (a)(2) before the end of the contract period may request
  a hearing before the board of trustees or the board's designee as
  provided by Section 21.207 for a hearing on a proposed nonrenewal of
  a contract. A teacher who is aggrieved by a decision of the board or
  the board's designee at a hearing under this subsection may appeal
  to the commissioner for review of the decision in accordance with
  Subchapter G. The commissioner may not substitute the
  commissioner's judgment for that of the board of trustees or the
  board's designee unless the decision of the board or the board's
  designee was not supported by substantial evidence based on the
  record made at the hearing before the board or the board's designee.
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.4032 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.4032.  COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
  (a)  A school district shall adopt a plan for determining the
  compensation of the district's classroom teachers.
         (b)  In developing a plan under Subsection (a), a school
  district shall consider including provisions under which the
  district will pay a bonus to each classroom teacher who:
               (1)  demonstrates effectiveness in improving student
  achievement;
               (2)  serves as a mentor for other classroom teachers;
               (3)  assumes responsibilities in addition to
  performing classroom teaching duties; or
               (4)  as determined by the agency:
                     (A)  teaches in a subject area or a position
  experiencing a critical shortage of teachers, if the classroom
  teacher is qualified to teach in that subject area or position;
                     (B)  teaches at a district school that is among
  the schools in this state that have a shortage of teachers; or
                     (C)  teaches at a district school that is among
  the schools in this state that have the greatest difficulty hiring
  or retaining classroom teachers.
         (c)  A plan adopted under Subsection (a) must:
               (1)  be designed with input from the school district's
  classroom teachers;
               (2)  base classroom teacher compensation on annual
  evaluations focused on student achievement; and
               (3)  be designed to recruit, reward, and retain
  effective teachers.
         (d)  A plan adopted under Subsection (a) may provide for
  paying a bonus to district employees who meet campus goals.
         (e)  Not later than January 1, 2012, the agency shall develop
  a model alternative compensation plan that a school district may
  use in adopting a plan under Subsection (a).
         SECTION 12.  Section 21.4551(e), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  From funds appropriated for that purpose, a teacher who
  attends a reading academy is entitled to receive a stipend in the
  amount determined by the commissioner. [A stipend received under
  this subsection is not considered in determining whether a district
  is paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section
  21.402.]
         SECTION 13.  Section 22.107(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district shall pay each full-time district
  employee, other than an administrator or a classroom teacher,
  full-time librarian, full-time counselor certified under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, or full-time school nurse [an employee
  subject to the minimum salary schedule under Section 21.402], an
  amount at least equal to $500.
         SECTION 14.  Sections 25.112(a) and (d), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise authorized by this section, a school
  district may not enroll more than a district-wide average of 22
  students in [a] kindergarten, first, second, third, and [or] fourth
  grade classes or more than 25 students in a class at one of those
  grade levels.  Those limitations do [class. That limitation does]
  not apply during:
               (1)  any 12-week period of the school year selected by
  the district, in the case of a district whose average daily
  attendance is adjusted under Section 42.005(c); or
               (2)  the last 12 weeks of any school year in the case of
  any other district.
         (d)  On application of a school district, the commissioner
  may except the district from a [the] limit in Subsection (a) if the
  commissioner finds the limit works an undue hardship on the
  district.  An exception expires at the end of the school year for
  which it is granted.
         SECTION 15.  Section 25.113(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A campus or district that is granted an exception under
  Section 25.112(d) from class size limits shall provide written
  notice of the exception to the parent of or person standing in
  parental relation to each student affected by the exception.  The
  notice must be included in a regular mailing or other communication
  from the campus or district, such as information sent home with
  students.  The notice must be in conspicuous bold or underlined
  print and, as applicable:
               (1)  specify the class for which an exception from the
  limit imposed by Section 25.112(a) was granted;
               (2)  state the number of children in the class for which
  the exception was granted;
               (3)  state that an exception from the district-wide
  average limit imposed by Section 25.112(a) was granted; and
               (4)  state the district-wide average number of children
  in a class for which the exception was granted [and
               [(3)     be included in a regular mailing or other
  communication from the campus or district, such as information sent
  home with students].
         SECTION 16.  Section 28.0211(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
  an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a), the school
  district in which the student attends school shall provide to the
  student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area,
  including reading instruction for a student who fails to perform
  satisfactorily on a reading assessment instrument. After a student
  fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument a
  second time, a grade placement committee shall be established to
  prescribe the accelerated instruction the district shall provide to
  the student before the student is administered the assessment
  instrument the third time. The grade placement committee shall be
  composed of the principal or the principal's designee, the
  student's parent or guardian, and the teacher of the subject of an
  assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform
  satisfactorily. The district shall notify the parent or guardian
  of the time and place for convening the grade placement committee
  and the purpose of the committee. [An accelerated instruction
  group administered by a school district under this section may not
  have a ratio of more than 10 students for each teacher.]
         SECTION 17.  Section 30.022(f), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  Before the beginning of each fiscal year, the board
  shall adopt a calendar for the school's operation that provides for
  at least[:
               [(1)]  the minimum number of days of instruction
  required by Section 25.081[; and
               [(2)     the minimum number of days of service required by
  Section 21.401].
         SECTION 18.  Section 30.052(f), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  Before the beginning of each fiscal year, the board
  shall adopt a calendar for the school's operation that provides for
  at least[:
               [(1)]  the minimum number of days of instruction
  required by Section 25.081[; and
               [(2)     the minimum number of days of service required by
  Section 21.401].
         SECTION 19.  Section 38.101(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a school district
  annually shall assess the physical fitness of students enrolled in
  grade three or higher in a course that satisfies the curriculum
  requirements for physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C) 
  [grades 3 through 12].
         SECTION 20.  Section 39.083(d), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  The board of trustees of each school district shall hold
  a public hearing on the report. The board shall give notice of the
  hearing to owners of real property in the district and to parents of
  district students. In addition to other notice required by law,
  notice of the hearing:
               (1)  may [must] be provided[:
               [(1)]  to a newspaper of general circulation in the
  district; and
               (2)  must be provided as prescribed by Section
  11.179(a) [through electronic mail to media serving the district].
         SECTION 21.  Section 39.306(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  The board of trustees shall hold a hearing for public
  discussion of the report. The board of trustees shall give notice
  of the hearing to property owners in the district and parents of and
  other persons standing in parental relation to a district student.
  The notification may [must] include notice to a newspaper of
  general circulation in the district and must include notice as
  prescribed by Section 11.179(a) [to electronic media serving the
  district]. After the hearing the report shall be widely
  disseminated within the district in a manner to be determined under
  rules adopted by the commissioner.
         SECTION 22.  Section 42.2513(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district, including a school district that is
  otherwise ineligible for state aid under this chapter, is entitled
  to state aid in an amount equal to the sum of:
               (1)  the product of $500 multiplied by the number of
  full-time district employees, other than administrators or
  classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors
  certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, or full-time school
  nurses [employees subject to the minimum salary schedule under
  Section 21.402]; and
               (2)  the product of $250 multiplied by the number of
  part-time district employees, other than administrators.
         SECTION 23.  Sections 44.004(b), (c), (i), and (j),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The president shall provide for [the publication of]
  notice of the budget and proposed tax rate meeting as prescribed by
  Section 11.179(a) and may provide for publication of the notice in a
  daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper published in the district. If
  no daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper is published in the
  district, the president may [shall] provide for the publication of
  notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the
  county in which the district's central administrative office is
  located. Notice under this subsection shall be provided [published]
  not earlier than the 30th day or later than the 10th day before the
  date of the meeting [hearing].
         (c)  A [The] notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt
  the budget and the proposed tax rate published in a newspaper under
  Subsection (b) may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a
  standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the
  notice must be in 18-point or larger type.  Subject to Subsection
  (d), [the] notice required under this section must:
               (1)  contain a statement in the following form:
  "NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
         "The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at
  (time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,
  city, state).  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school
  district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be
  adopted.  Public participation in the discussion is invited."  The
  statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type.  In
  reduced type, the notice must state:  "The tax rate that is
  ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a
  later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the
  district provides [publishes a] revised notice containing the same
  information and comparisons set out below and holds another public
  meeting to discuss the revised notice.";
               (2)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
  Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference,
  expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the
  amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount
  budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for
  each of the following:
                     (A)  maintenance and operations;
                     (B)  debt service; and
                     (C)  total expenditures;
               (3)  contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value
  and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value
  and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised
  value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the
  district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as
  calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code;
               (4)  contain a statement of the total amount of the
  outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district;
               (5)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
  Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must:
                     (A)  show in rows the tax rates described by
  Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of
  property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"
  "Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of
  "Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund":
                           (i)  the school district's "Last Year's
  Rate";
                           (ii)  the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of
  Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which:
                                 (a)  in the case of "Maintenance &
  Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current
  taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser
  under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes
  made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared,
  would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to
  be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the
  same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds
  distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily
  attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the
  district in the preceding school year; and
                                 (b)  in the case of "Interest & Sinking
  Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable
  value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under
  Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by
  the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when
  multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would
  impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be
  distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes
  collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax
  year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide
  the amount required to service the district's debt; and
                           (iii)  the "Proposed Rate";
                     (B)  contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with
  the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row
  required by Paragraph (A):
                           (i)  the "Local Revenue per Student," which
  is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of
  property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable
  school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to
  reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the
  notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product
  by the number of students in average daily attendance in the
  district for the applicable school year; and
                           (ii)  the "State Revenue per Student," which
  is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be
  received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing
  that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in
  the district for the applicable school year; and
                     (C)  contain an asterisk after each calculation
  for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in
  reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is
  used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or
  both.  The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds,
  were approved by the voters of this district.";
               (6)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
  Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must:
                     (A)  show in rows the information described by
  Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns
  entitled "Last Year" and "This Year":
                           (i)  "Average Market Value of Residences,"
  determined using the same group of residences for each year;
                           (ii)  "Average Taxable Value of Residences,"
  determined after taking into account the limitation on the
  appraised value of residences under Section 23.23, Tax Code, and
  after subtracting all homestead exemptions applicable in each year,
  other than exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons
  65 years of age or older or their surviving spouses, and using the
  same group of residences for each year;
                           (iii)  "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed
  Rate per $100 Value"; and
                           (iv)  "Taxes Due on Average Residence,"
  determined using the same group of residences for each year; and
                     (B)  contain the following information: "Increase
  (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which is
  computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for
  the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for
  the current tax year;
               (7)  contain the following statement in bold print:  
  "Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the
  residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving
  spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age
  or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount
  paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of
  changes in tax rate or property value.";
               (8)  contain the following statement in bold print:  
  "Notice of Rollback Rate:  The highest tax rate the district can
  adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the school
  district rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code).  
  This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a
  rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school district rollback
  rate)."; and
               (9)  contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which
  must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund
  balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or
  general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal
  year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt
  obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the
  district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in
  the succeeding school year.
         (i)  A school district that uses a certified estimate, as
  authorized by Subsection (h), may adopt a budget at the public
  meeting designated in the notice prepared using the estimate, but
  the district may not adopt a tax rate before the district receives
  the certified appraisal roll for the district required by Section
  26.01(a), Tax Code. After receipt of the certified appraisal roll,
  the district must provide [publish a] revised notice and hold
  another public meeting before the district may adopt a tax rate that
  exceeds:
               (1)  the rate proposed in the notice prepared using the
  estimate; or
               (2)  the district's rollback rate determined under
  Section 26.08, Tax Code, using the certified appraisal roll.
         (j)  Notwithstanding Subsections (g), (h), and (i), a school
  district may adopt a budget after the district adopts a tax rate for
  the tax year in which the fiscal year covered by the budget begins
  if the district elects to adopt a tax rate before receiving the
  certified appraisal roll for the district as provided by Section
  26.05(g), Tax Code.  If a school district elects to adopt a tax rate
  before adopting a budget, the district must provide [publish]
  notice and hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing the proposed
  tax rate as provided by this section.  Following adoption of the tax
  rate, the district must provide [publish] notice and hold another
  public meeting before the district may adopt a budget.  The
  comptroller shall prescribe the language and format to be used in
  the notices.  The school district may use the certified estimate of
  taxable value in preparing a notice under this subsection.
         SECTION 24.  Subchapter A, Chapter 44, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 44.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 44.011.  FINANCIAL EXIGENCY. (a)  The board of trustees
  of a school district may adopt a resolution declaring a financial
  exigency for the district. The declaration expires at the end of the
  fiscal year during which the declaration is made unless the board
  adopts a resolution before the end of the fiscal year declaring
  continuation of the financial exigency for the following fiscal
  year.
         (b)  The board is not limited in the number of times the board
  may adopt a resolution declaring continuation of the financial
  exigency.
         (c)  A board may terminate a financial exigency declaration
  at any time if the board considers it appropriate.
         SECTION 25.  Section 45.003(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Bonds described by Section 45.001 may not be issued and
  taxes described by Section 45.001 or 45.002 may not be levied unless
  authorized by a majority of the qualified voters of the district,
  voting at an election held for that purpose, at the expense of the
  district, in accordance with the Election Code, except as provided
  by this section. Each election must be called by resolution or
  order of the governing board or commissioners court. The
  resolution or order must state the date of the election, the
  proposition or propositions to be submitted and voted on, the
  polling place or places, and any other matters considered necessary
  or advisable by the governing board or commissioners court.  If an
  election under this section is held as a joint election under
  Chapter 271, Election Code, the polling places must be designated
  in the manner provided by Section 11.0581(c) for polling places in
  an election for trustees.
         SECTION 26.  Section 271.003(b), Election Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The voters of a particular election precinct or
  political subdivision may be served in a joint election by a common
  polling place located outside the boundary of the election precinct
  or political subdivision if the location can adequately and
  conveniently serve the affected voters and will facilitate the
  orderly conduct of the election, except as otherwise provided by
  Section 11.0581, Education Code, or other law.
         SECTION 27.  Sections 825.405(a) and (b), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  For members who would have been entitled to the minimum
  salary for certain school personnel under Section 21.402, Education
  Code, as that section existed on January 1, 2011, and for members
  who would have been entitled to the minimum salary for certain
  school personnel under former Section 16.056, Education Code, as
  that section existed on January 1, 1995, the employing district
  shall pay the state's contribution on the portion of the member's
  salary that exceeds the statutory minimum salary.
         (b)  For purposes of this section:
               (1)  the statutory minimum salary for certain school
  personnel under Section 21.402, Education Code, as that section
  existed on January 1, 2011, is the salary provided by that section
  multiplied by the cost of education adjustment applicable under
  Section 42.102, Education Code, to the district in which the member
  is employed; and
               (2)  the statutory minimum salary for members who would
  have been entitled to the minimum salary for certain school
  personnel under former Section 16.056, Education Code, as that
  section existed on January 1, 1995, is a minimum salary computed in
  the same manner as the minimum salary for certain school personnel
  under Section 21.402, Education Code, as that section existed on
  January 1, 2011, multiplied by the cost of education adjustment
  applicable under Section 42.102, Education Code, to the district in
  which the member is employed.
         SECTION 28.  (a)  The following provisions of the Education
  Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 21.401;
               (2)  Section 21.402;
               (3)  Section 21.403;
               (4)  Section 21.4031;
               (5)  Section 21.410(l);
               (6)  Section 21.411(l);
               (7)  Section 21.412(l);
               (8)  Section 21.413(l);
               (9)  Section 29.0821(c); and
               (10)  Section 30.102(b).
         (b)  Section 823.404, Government Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 29.  A plan adopted by a school district under
  Section 21.4032, Education Code, as added by this Act, may not be
  used by the district for determining classroom teacher compensation
  paid before the 2012-2013 school year.
         SECTION 30.  The changes in law made by Section 11.179,
  Education Code, as added by this Act, and Sections 39.083(d),
  39.306(c), and 44.004(b), (c), (i), and (j), Education Code, as
  amended by this Act, apply only to notice for a hearing or meeting
  for which notice is required to be provided on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A notice for a hearing or meeting for
  which notice is required to be provided before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect when the notice is
  required to be provided, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 31.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
  this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012 school
  year.
         (b)  If this Act takes effect on or before April 10, 2011, the
  change in law made by Sections 21.103 and 21.206, Education Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies beginning with contracts for the
  2011-2012 school year.  If this Act takes effect after April 10,
  2011, the change in law made by Sections 21.103 and 21.206,
  Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with
  contracts for the 2012-2013 school year.
         SECTION 32.  The repeal by this Act of Section 823.404,
  Government Code, does not affect equivalent membership service
  credit established under that section before the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 33.  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 September 1, 2011.