81R3917 JRJ-D
By: Marquez H.B. No. 1477
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the transportation allotment provided under the public
school finance system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (c), (e), and (g) and adding Subsections
(c-1), (c-2), (c-3), (e-1), (e-2), (e-3), (g-1), (g-2), and (g-3)
to read as follows:
(c) Each district or county operating a regular
transportation system is entitled to an allotment based on the
daily cost per regular eligible student of operating and
maintaining the regular transportation system and the linear
density of that system. In determining the cost, the commissioner
shall give consideration to factors affecting the actual cost of
providing these transportation services in each district or county.
The average actual cost is to be computed by the commissioner and
included for consideration by the legislature in the General
Appropriations Act.
(c-1) The allotment per mile of approved route under
Subsection (c) is computed as follows:
Linear Density Grouping Allocation Per Mile of Linear Density Grouping Allocation Per Mile of
Linear Density Grouping Allocation Per Mile of
Approved Route Approved Route
Approved Route
2.40 and above$3.69
1.65 to 2.403.22
1.15 to 1.652.86
.90 to 1.152.50
up to .902.27
[may not exceed the amount set by appropriation].
(c-2) Subsection (c-1) applies beginning with the 2014-2015
school year. For the 2009-2010 through the 2013-2014 school years,
the allotment per mile of approved route under Subsection (c) is an
amount equal to the product of the amount for each linear density
grouping established in Rider 4, page III-7, Chapter 1369, Acts of
the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005 (the General
Appropriations Act), and:
(1) for the 2009-2010 school year, 1.263;
(2) for the 2010-2011 school year, 1.526;
(3) for the 2011-2012 school year, 1.789;
(4) for the 2012-2013 school year, 2.052; or
(5) for the 2013-2014 school year, 2.315.
(c-3) Subsection (c-2) and this subsection expire September
1, 2015.
(e) The commissioner may grant an amount [set by
appropriation] for private or commercial transportation for
eligible students from isolated areas. The need for this type of
transportation grant shall be determined on an individual basis and
the amount granted shall not exceed the actual cost. The grants may
be made only in extreme hardship cases. A grant may not be made if
the students live within two miles of an approved school bus route.
(e-1) The maximum allotment for private or commercial
transportation under Subsection (e) is an amount equal to the
lesser of $0.64 per mile or $2,107 per eligible student.
(e-2) Subsection (e-1) applies beginning with the 2014-2015
school year. For the 2009-2010 through the 2013-2014 school years,
the maximum allotment under Subsection (e) is an amount equal to the
product of the lesser of $0.25 per mile or $816 per eligible student
and:
(1) for the 2009-2010 school year, 1.263;
(2) for the 2010-2011 school year, 1.526;
(3) for the 2011-2012 school year, 1.789;
(4) for the 2012-2013 school year, 2.052; or
(5) for the 2013-2014 school year, 2.315.
(e-3) Subsection (e-2) and this subsection expire September
1, 2015.
(g) A school district or county that provides special
transportation services for eligible special education students is
entitled to a state allocation paid on a previous year's
cost-per-mile basis. [The maximum rate per mile allowable shall be
set by appropriation based on data gathered from the first year of
each preceding biennium.] Districts may use a portion of their
support allocation to pay transportation costs, if necessary. The
commissioner may grant an amount set by appropriation for private
transportation to reimburse parents or their agents for
transporting eligible special education students. The mileage
allowed shall be computed along the shortest public road from the
student's home to school and back, morning and afternoon. The need
for this type of transportation shall be determined on an
individual basis and shall be approved only in extreme hardship
cases.
(g-1) The maximum allotment for special transportation
services under Subsection (g) is an amount equal to the lesser of
$2.78 per mile or $2,107 per eligible special education student.
(g-2) Subsection (g-1) applies beginning with the 2014-2015
school year. For the 2009-2010 through the 2013-2014 school years,
the maximum allotment for special transportation services under
Subsection (g) is an amount equal to the product of the lesser of
$1.08 per mile or $816 per eligible special education student and:
(1) for the 2009-2010 school year, 1.263;
(2) for the 2010-2011 school year, 1.526;
(3) for the 2011-2012 school year, 1.789;
(4) for the 2012-2013 school year, 2.052; or
(5) for the 2013-2014 school year, 2.315.
(g-3) Subsection (g-2) and this subsection expire September
1, 2015.
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.
Linear Density Grouping Allocation Per Mile of
Approved Route