84R11725 KKA-D
By: Anderson of Dallas H.B. No. 2976
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the transportation allotments provided under the
Foundation School Program to school districts that permit students
to select a campus of attendance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.155(b), Education Code, is amended by
amending Subdivision (3) and adding Subdivision (4) to read as
follows:
(3) "Linear density" means:
(A) for purposes of Subsection (c), the average
number of regular eligible students transported daily, divided by
the approved daily route miles traveled by the [respective]
transportation system; and
(B) for purposes of Subsection (c-1), the average
number of school choice eligible students transported daily,
divided by the approved daily route miles traveled by the
transportation system.
(4) "School choice eligible student" means a student
who:
(A) chooses to attend a campus other than the
campus to which the student would regularly be assigned because the
campus of choice offers unique academic programs not available at
the regularly assigned campus;
(B) resides two or more miles from the student's
campus of choice, measured along the shortest route that may be
traveled on public roads; and
(C) is not classified as a student eligible for
special education services.
SECTION 2. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
follows:
(c-1) This subsection applies only to a district that offers
students residing in the district a variety of choices in selecting
a campus for attendance and provides transportation to the selected
campus at no cost to the students. The choices of campus offered
must represent multiple factors, such as the sex of students
enrolled at the campus, the subject matter or learning methods
emphasized at the campus, and the degree to which athletic and other
extracurricular activities are available at the campus. In
addition to the regular transportation allotment under Subsection
(c), a district is entitled to an allotment based on the daily cost
per school choice eligible student of operating and maintaining the
transportation system for school choice eligible students and the
linear density of that system. In determining the cost, the
commissioner shall give consideration to factors affecting the
actual cost of providing those transportation services in the
district. The average actual cost is to be computed by the
commissioner and included for consideration by the legislature in
the General Appropriations Act. The allotment per mile of approved
route may not exceed the amount set by appropriation.
(d) A district or county may apply for and on approval of the
commissioner receive an additional amount of up to 10 percent of its
regular transportation allotment under Subsection (c) to be used
for the transportation of children living within two miles of the
school they attend who would be subject to hazardous traffic
conditions if they walked to school. Each board of trustees shall
provide to the commissioner the definition of hazardous conditions
applicable to that district and shall identify the specific
hazardous areas for which the allocation is requested. A hazardous
condition exists where no walkway is provided and children must
walk along or cross a freeway or expressway, an underpass, an
overpass or a bridge, an uncontrolled major traffic artery, an
industrial or commercial area, or another comparable condition.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.