Texas House Bill HB145

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08
• Out of House Committee: 5/2/09

Caption

Relating to state aid for certain juvenile justice alternative education programs that enter into certain revenue sharing agreements.

Impact

The legislation is set to impact the funding structure for juvenile justice alternative education programs significantly. By mandating that programs attempt to maintain or establish funding agreements in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, the bill reinforces the need for continued collaboration between educational institutions and juvenile justice programs. This approach is intended to ensure that programs can provide effective educational services to juveniles while managing financial challenges.

Summary

House Bill 145 aims to provide state aid to certain juvenile justice alternative education programs in Texas that enter into revenue sharing agreements with local school districts. The bill specifically targets those programs located in counties with populations less than 1.4 million and that had previously received funding based on specific agreements during the 2005-2006 school year. The goal of the bill is to continue support for these programs by ensuring they seek similar financial agreements in subsequent school years, thereby stabilizing funding for juvenile education initiatives.

Contention

While the bill seems beneficial for supporting juvenile education, it may face scrutiny regarding its reliance on school districts to enter into revenue sharing agreements. Some stakeholders may question whether the mandated collaboration between juvenile programs and school districts is feasible, especially in the context of varying financial resources across districts. Furthermore, there may be concerns about the overall effectiveness of this funding strategy, particularly in ensuring that the quality of education provided meets the needs of at-risk youths.