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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements |
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to the public school finance system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER L. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE |
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Sec. 42.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Public School Finance. |
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Sec. 42.602. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE. |
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(a) The Texas Commission on Public School Finance is established |
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to develop and make recommendations for improvements to the current |
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public school finance system or for new methods of financing public |
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schools. |
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(b) The commission is composed of 15 members, consisting of |
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the following: |
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(1) four members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; |
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(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives; |
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(4) the chair of the senate committee on education, or |
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a representative designated by the chair; |
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(5) the chair of the senate committee on finance, or a |
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representative designated by the chair; |
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(6) the chair of the house of representatives |
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committee on public education, or a representative designated by |
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the chair; |
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(7) the chair of the house of representatives |
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committee on appropriations, or a representative designated by the |
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chair; and |
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(8) a member of the State Board of Education, as |
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designated by the chair of that board. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), |
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and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the |
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membership of the commission reflects, to the extent possible, the |
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ethnic diversity of this state and includes at least one of each of |
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the following representatives: |
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(1) an administrator in the public school system or an |
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elected member of the board of trustees of a school district; |
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(2) a member of the business community; and |
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(3) a member of the civic community. |
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Sec. 42.603. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. |
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Sec. 42.604. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 42.605. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. |
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(a) Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative |
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support for the commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency |
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for that purpose. |
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Sec. 42.606. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues |
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related to the public school finance system, including: |
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(1) the purpose of the public school finance system |
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and the relationship between state and local funding in that |
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system; |
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(2) the appropriate levels of local maintenance and |
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operations and interest and sinking fund tax effort necessary to |
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implement a public school finance system that complies with the |
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requirements under the Texas Constitution; and |
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(3) policy changes to the public school finance system |
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necessary to adjust for student demographics and the geographic |
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diversity in the state. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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Sec. 42.607. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2018, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve the |
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public school finance system, including any adjustments to funding |
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to account for student demographics. |
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Sec. 42.608. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. |
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(a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill |
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its duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 42.609. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. (a) The commission is abolished January 8, 2019. |
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(b) This subchapter expires January 8, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |