By: Patrick, Campbell S.B. No. 1409
Paxton
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. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION REGARDING
FACILITIES. (a) For the purpose of providing information to the
public regarding district or school facilities usage and taxpayer
value, a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall:
(1) report data elements specified by commissioner
rule to the agency through the Texas Student Data System (TSDS) or a
successor data management system maintained by the agency; and
(2) provide a direct link on the district's or school's
Internet website to the Texas Student Data System (TSDS) or a
successor data management system maintained by the agency through
which the facilities information relevant to the specific district
or school may be readily accessed.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
implement this section, including rules ensuring that the Texas
Student Data System (TSDS) or a successor data management system
maintained by the agency includes appropriate data elements
regarding school facilities usage and taxpayer value.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules for purposes of
Subsection (b) based on the recommendations of the Taxpayer Value
and School Facilities Usage Advisory Committee established under
Section 46.102. This subsection expires September 1, 2017.
Sec. 46.102. TAXPAYER VALUE AND SCHOOL FACILITIES USAGE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The Taxpayer Value and School Facilities
Usage Advisory Committee is established to serve the function
specified by this section.
(b) The committee consists of:
(1) the commissioner and the comptroller, who serve as
co-chairs of the committee; and
(2) the following persons, appointed jointly by the
commissioner and comptroller:
(A) a current school board member;
(B) a current school district administrator;
(C) a current public school teacher;
(D) a parent of a student currently enrolled in a
public school;
(E) a representative of the school construction
industry, who may be an engineer, architect, or contractor;
(F) a representative of the construction
industry who does not work on school construction, who may be an
engineer, architect, or contractor; and
(G) a member of the public.
(c) The commissioner and comptroller shall make the
appointments required by Subsection (b) not later than October 15,
2013.
(d) The committee shall meet to develop recommendations
regarding the data that should be considered in evaluating a school
district's or open-enrollment charter school's facility usage and
taxpayer value with regard to school facility construction and
renovation. The committee shall hold its initial meeting as soon as
possible after the committee members are selected, but not later
than November 15, 2013.
(e) Not later than December 31, 2014, the committee shall
develop its final recommendations and submit a report to the
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
representatives. The committee shall also make the report
available electronically to members of the legislature.
(f) Based on the recommendations developed by the
committee, the commissioner shall:
(1) ensure that the Texas Student Data System (TSDS)
or a successor data management system maintained by the agency
includes appropriate data elements regarding school facilities;
and
(2) adopt rules for purposes of Section 46.101.
(g) A committee member is not entitled to reimbursement of
expenses or to compensation.
(h) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
committee.
(i) This section expires September 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. Section 46.101, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies to a school district or open-enrollment charter school
beginning on the effective date of rules adopted by the
commissioner of education under Subsection (b), Section 46.101,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.