83R9296 KKA-D
By: Patrick, Paxton S.B. No. 1409
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public information regarding facilities of school
districts and open-enrollment charter schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. PUBLIC INFORMATION REGARDING FACILITIES
Sec. 46.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
"instructional facility" has the meaning assigned by Section
46.001.
Sec. 46.102. INVENTORY OF EXISTING FACILITIES. (a) A
school district or open-enrollment charter school shall post an
inventory of the district's or school's existing facilities on the
district's or school's Internet website.
(b) The inventory must include at least the following
information regarding instructional facilities:
(1) the total available square footage and maximum
student capacity of the district's or school's instructional
facilities in aggregate;
(2) the total current student enrollment in the
district or school; and
(3) for each separate instructional facility:
(A) square footage;
(B) maximum student capacity; and
(C) current student enrollment.
(c) The inventory must include at least the following
information regarding each facility other than an instructional
facility:
(1) square footage;
(2) a statement of the facility's current use; and
(3) any other information specified by rule adopted by
the commissioner.
(d) For a facility for which the school district or
open-enrollment charter school developed and posted construction
or renovation information in accordance with Section 46.103, the
information provided under this section for the facility must also
include the final updated information required under Section
46.103. This subsection does not require a district or school to
develop and post information regarding construction or renovation
costs for a facility not subject to Section 46.103.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall update the information posted under this section at least
annually and more frequently if necessary to ensure that the
information provides an accurate description of existing
facilities.
(f) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall maintain an Internet website to comply with this section.
Sec. 46.103. CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF FACILITIES.
(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall post
on the district's or school's Internet website at least the
information specified by this section regarding each project for
the construction or renovation of a facility.
(b) The following information must be posted regarding an
instructional facility:
(1) the square footage of the facility;
(2) the square footage per student, computed using the
maximum student capacity at the facility;
(3) the cost per square foot;
(4) the cost per student, computed using the maximum
student capacity at the facility; and
(5) the average cost of constructing a comparable
facility in the region, as determined by the commissioner under
Subsection (f).
(c) The following information must be posted regarding a
facility other than an instructional facility:
(1) the square footage of the facility;
(2) a statement of the intended use of the facility;
(3) the cost per square foot;
(4) the average cost of constructing a comparable
facility in the region, as determined by the commissioner under
Subsection (f); and
(5) any other information specified by rule adopted by
the commissioner.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall comply with this section at the beginning of a project by
posting information based on estimated costs and anticipated
construction or renovation design plans. At the conclusion of the
project, the district or school shall post updated information that
reflects the actual cost and final specifications of the project.
Subsequently, the district or school shall continue to post the
information as provided by Section 46.102(d).
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall maintain an Internet website to comply with this section.
(f) The commissioner shall determine and periodically
update information regarding the average cost per square foot in
each region of the state of constructing instructional facilities
and other school district or open-enrollment charter school
facilities. The commissioner may base a determination under this
subsection on any relevant information available to the
commissioner and may enter into any contract necessary to authorize
use of or access to the information.
SECTION 2. Section 46.103, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to school district construction or renovation
projects that are in progress on or are initiated on or after the
effective date of this Act. A school district is not required to
post information regarding projects that are completed on or before
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.