83S10310 KKA-D
By: Campbell S.B. No. 29
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved
through a taxpayer savings grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.253, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the commissioner
shall adjust enrollment estimates and entitlement for each school
district for each school year based on information provided by the
comptroller under Section 42.501(f). This subsection expires
September 1, 2018.
SECTION 2. Chapter 42, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANTS
Sec. 42.501. TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "eligible student" means a school-age child who resides in
the state and who:
(1) is entering kindergarten or first grade;
(2) attended a public school for all of the academic
year immediately preceding initial participation in the Taxpayer
Savings Grant Program; or
(3) participated in the program in a preceding
academic year.
(b) A parent or legal guardian of an eligible student who
agrees to accept reimbursement in an amount that is less than the
state average amount of maintenance and operations expenditures per
student may receive reimbursement from the state for the tuition
paid for the enrollment of the eligible student at a private school
in an amount that is the lesser of:
(1) the tuition paid; or
(2) 60 percent of the state average maintenance and
operations expenditures per student.
(c) Money from the available school fund and federal funds
may not be used for reimbursement under this section.
(d) A private school voluntarily selected by a parent for
the parent's child to attend, with or without governmental
assistance, may not be required to comply with any state law or rule
governing the school's educational program that was not in effect
on January 1, 2013.
(e) The comptroller shall provide reimbursement to a parent
or legal guardian of an eligible student as authorized by this
section.
(f) Not later than October 1 of each year, the comptroller
shall notify the commissioner and the Legislative Budget Board of
the number of eligible students likely to participate in the
program, disaggregated by the school district or open-enrollment
charter school the eligible students would otherwise attend. Not
later than March 1 of each year, the comptroller shall provide final
information to the commissioner and the Legislative Budget Board
regarding the number of students participating in the program,
disaggregated in the same manner as the initial information.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable, but not later than the
45th day after the effective date of this Act, the comptroller, in
coordination with the commissioner of education, shall adopt rules
to implement the Taxpayer Savings Grant Program under Section
42.501, Education Code, as added by this Act, including rules to
prevent fraud in financial transactions under the program and to
determine the net savings resulting from implementation of the
program.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 42.501(f), Education
Code, as added by this Act, the comptroller of public accounts shall
provide the specified information otherwise due under that
subsection not later than October 1, 2013, on the earliest date
before January 1, 2014, that the information is available,
considering the effective date of this Act and the effective date of
rules implementing this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013, 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 effect on that
date, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.