84R10480 MEW-F
By: Aycock H.B. No. 3347
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to revocation of a charter for an open-enrollment charter
school and procedures for the disposition of property owned by a
charter school after revocation or surrender of a charter.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12.116, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (e)
and (f) to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner shall adopt an informal review
procedure to be used for revoking the charter of an open-enrollment
charter school or for reconstituting the governing body of the
charter holder as authorized by Section 12.115.
(c) A decision by the commissioner to revoke a charter is
subject to review by the State Office of Administrative
Hearings. Notwithstanding Chapter 2001, Government Code:
(1) the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall
conduct a revocation review hearing and issue a final decision not
later than the 90th day after the date that the notice of hearing is
filed with the State Office of Administrative Hearings;
(2) the administrative law judge shall uphold a
decision by the commissioner to revoke a charter unless the judge
finds the decision is arbitrary and capricious or clearly
erroneous; and
(3) [(2)] a decision of the administrative law judge
under this subsection is final and may not be appealed.
(d) If the commissioner issues a decision to revoke
[revokes] the charter of an open-enrollment charter school, the
commissioner may:
(1) manage the school until alternative arrangements
are made for the school's students; [and]
(2) assign operation of one or more campuses formerly
operated by the charter holder who held the revoked charter to a
different charter holder who consents to the assignment; or
(3) appoint a board of managers under Section 12.1165
or an agent of the commissioner to close the operations of the
school and manage the disposition of the state's personal and real
property in the possession of the charter holder.
(e) If the commissioner decides to manage the school under
Subsection (d)(1), the commissioner may:
(1) allow the existing governing body of the school to
manage the school, under the commissioner's direction, until the
conclusion of the academic school year;
(2) appoint a board of managers under Section 12.1165;
or
(3) appoint an individual to serve as the agent of the
commissioner.
(f) The commissioner shall transfer to the charter school
liquidation account established under Section 12.269 any funds
received by the charter holder under Section 12.106 that remain
after the operations of the school are closed under this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 12.1165 and 12.1166 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.1165. BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR OPERATION OR
DISSOLUTION. (a) If the commissioner issues a decision to revoke
the charter of an open-enrollment charter school, the commissioner
may appoint a board of managers and a charter superintendent to:
(1) manage the school under Section 12.116(d)(1); or
(2) close the operations of the school under Section
12.116(d)(3).
(b) The commissioner may designate an individual member of
the board of managers to submit to the agency any required data,
reports, or other information necessary to close the operations of
the school.
(c) The board of managers may exercise all of the powers and
duties assigned to a governing body of a charter holder by any
statute or rule.
(d) If the governing body of a charter holder is managing a
school under Section 12.116(e)(1), the governing body's powers are
terminated on the effective date of the commissioner's appointment
of the board of managers.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the
board of managers may amend the school's budget. The board of
managers may use cash on hand received by the former charter holder
under Section 12.106 or any allocation of state funding due to the
former charter holder under Section 12.106 to close the operations
of the school. Actions taken under this subsection are subject to
the approval of the commissioner.
(f) A person who serves on the board of managers or as a
charter superintendent under this section acts on behalf of the
commissioner and is entitled to:
(1) sovereign immunity; and
(2) representation by the attorney general for any act
or omission taken while acting in the person's official capacity.
(g) The board of managers shall continue to operate until
dissolved by the commissioner. Members of the board of managers and
a charter superintendent serve at the discretion of the
commissioner and may be replaced by the commissioner at any time.
(h) Except as otherwise provided, this chapter applies to a
school governed by a board of managers in the same manner this
chapter applies to any other charter school.
Sec. 12.1166. COMPENSATION OF BOARD OF MANAGERS AND CHARTER
SUPERINTENDENT. (a) The commissioner may authorize compensation
for a member of a board of managers or a charter superintendent
appointed under Section 12.1165.
(b) The commissioner shall establish the terms of
compensation provided under Subsection (a).
(c) The commissioner shall use funds of the former school
due or received under Section 12.106 for compensation of a charter
superintendent or a member of a board of managers.
(d) If funds described by Subsection (c) are not available
or the commissioner determines that the circumstances require, the
commissioner may use available agency funds for compensation under
this section, provided that the use of the available funds for that
purpose is not prohibited by other law.
(e) If the commissioner determines that the amount
appropriated for purposes of the Foundation School Program exceeds
the amount to which school districts are entitled under Chapters 42
and 46, the commissioner may authorize the comptroller to transfer
funds from the Foundation School Program to the agency's
administrative account for compensation as provided by this
section.
SECTION 3. Section 12.128, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (f) to read as follows:
(c-1) In supervising the disposition of property under
Subsection (c)(2), the commissioner may:
(1) file a suit for receivership under Subchapter G;
or
(2) seek a court of competent jurisdiction to declare
the property to be state property and order the property to be
titled in the name of the state.
(c-2) If the commissioner obtains a court declaration
described by Subsection (c-1)(2):
(1) the General Land Office shall:
(A) sell any real property through any method
available to the General Land Office; and
(B) transfer any proceeds of the sale of the real
property to the charter school liquidation account established
under Section 12.269; and
(2) the Texas Facilities Commission shall transfer any
proceeds from the sale of property disposed of under Chapter 2175,
Government Code, into the charter school liquidation account
established under Section 12.269.
(f) The proceeds of the sale of property under Subsection
(c-2) are not subject to the requirements of the General
Appropriations Act or statutory requirements or rules related to
the general revenue fund.
SECTION 4. Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. CHARTER SCHOOL RECEIVERSHIP AND LIQUIDATION
Sec. 12.251. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
aid the commissioner in carrying out the commissioner's duty to
supervise the disposition of public property of a charter school
that ceases to operate. This subchapter shall be liberally
construed to permit the commissioner, acting as a receiver, to
promptly dispose of public property to preserve state funds.
Sec. 12.252. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Former charter school" means a charter school
that may no longer function as a charter school under this chapter
or Chapter 39 because the school's charter has been revoked or
surrendered.
(2) "Liquidation order" means a final order entered by
the receivership court approving the receiver's disposition of all
public property and closing the receivership.
(3) "Proposed disposition plan" means a plan presented
by the receiver to the court that accounts for the disposition of
all assets in the possession of a former charter school.
(4) "Receiver" means the commissioner, acting in an
official capacity to take possession, assume control, and dispose
of public property of a former charter school. The term includes a
special deputy receiver.
(5) "Receivership order" means a court order by which
the court assumes jurisdiction, opens a receivership proceeding,
and appoints the commissioner as the receiver for the assets of a
former charter school.
(6) "Special deputy receiver" means a person appointed
by or acting under a contract with the commissioner as a receiver on
the commissioner's behalf.
Sec. 12.253. RECEIVERSHIP; JURISDICTION AND VENUE. (a) If
the commissioner revokes or accepts the surrender of the charter of
a charter school, the commissioner may determine that a
receivership is warranted to conserve or dispose of public property
over which the commissioner assumes control or possession under
this chapter or Chapter 39.
(b) At the request of the commissioner, the attorney general
shall bring an action in a Travis County district court to appoint a
receiver to liquidate the assets of a former charter school or a
charter school that has otherwise ceased to operate.
(c) A court does not have jurisdiction over any receivership
proceeding for a charter school commenced on behalf of a person
other than the commissioner.
(d) Not later than the 30th day after the date the attorney
general brings an action to appoint a receiver under this section,
the court shall enter a receivership order opening the receivership
proceeding.
Sec. 12.254. RECEIVERSHIP ORDER. (a) A receivership order
shall:
(1) appoint the commissioner and any successor in
office as the receiver for the former charter school; and
(2) direct the receiver to take possession of the
property of the former charter school and administer the property
subject to this subchapter.
(b) The receiver may request that the receivership court
appoint a single judge to supervise the receivership and hear any
cases or controversies arising out of or related to the
receivership.
(c) The rights and liabilities of all persons interested in
the assets of the former charter school become fixed as of the date
of entry of the court's receivership order.
Sec. 12.255. POWERS AND DUTIES OF RECEIVER. (a) The
receiver may assume or reject any executory contract or unexpired
lease of the former charter school.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the receiver is
authorized to liquidate by sale or contract for sale any real
property owned by a former charter school to satisfy debts of the
school and return public property and proceeds to the state.
(c) The receiver may dispose of the former charter school's
property using provisions for:
(1) the disposal of surplus and salvage property under
Chapter 2175, Government Code; or
(2) the sale of real property under Section
12.128(c-2).
(d) If the receiver disposes of real property under
Subsection (c)(2), the receivership court shall assume sole
jurisdiction of the transfer of title.
(e) The receiver shall dispose of any property determined to
be held in trust or any federal property in compliance with
applicable law.
Sec. 12.256. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. (a) Any law
governing the procurement of goods and services by the state does
not apply to a contract entered into by the commissioner as a
receiver. This section does not waive any immunity or create a
cause of action against the state.
(b) A receiver appointed under this subchapter may not be
required to pay any filing, recording, transcript, or
authentication fee to any public officer in the state.
Sec. 12.257. SPECIAL DEPUTY RECEIVER; OTHER EMPLOYMENT.
(a) The receiver may appoint or contract with one or more special
deputy receivers to act for the receiver under this subchapter and
employ or contract with legal counsel, actuaries, accountants,
appraisers, consultants, clerks, assistants, and other personnel
necessary to assist in the liquidation of the former charter
school's assets.
(b) A special deputy receiver has all powers of the receiver
granted by this subchapter, unless specifically limited by the
receiver, and serves at the pleasure of the receiver.
(c) A special deputy receiver or other person with whom the
receiver contracts under this section may act on behalf of the
commissioner only in the commissioner's capacity as receiver.
(d) The receiver may determine the reasonable compensation
for any special deputy, employee, or contractor and pay
compensation in accordance with Section 12.262.
Sec. 12.258. PERFORMANCE BOND REQUIRED. The receiver shall
execute a bond to ensure the proper performance of the receiver's
duties under this subchapter in an amount to be set by the court.
Sec. 12.259. ASSETS OF FORMER CHARTER SCHOOL. (a) The
receiver or a special deputy receiver shall take possession of all
student records, books, papers, electronic data, personal and real
property, and other assets purchased or acquired, wholly or partly,
with state funds of a former charter school.
(b) If a record or asset described under Subsection (a) is
in the possession of a special deputy receiver, the receiver may
review that asset promptly on request made to the special deputy
receiver.
(c) A receiver or special deputy receiver is required to
comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20
U.S.C. Section 1232g).
Sec. 12.260. IMMUNITY, INDEMNIFICATION, AND
REPRESENTATION. (a) The commissioner is entitled to immunity for
all acts taken as a receiver. A special deputy receiver is entitled
to immunity to the same extent as the commissioner acting as a
receiver.
(b) If any legal action is commenced against the receiver or
a special deputy receiver, whether against the receiver or special
deputy receiver personally or in their official capacity, resulting
from an alleged act, error, or omission of the receiver or special
deputy receiver arising out of or by reason of their duties or
employment, the receiver or special deputy receiver is indemnified
for all expenses, attorney's fees, judgments, settlements,
decrees, or amounts due and owing or paid in satisfaction of or
incurred in the defense of the legal action, unless it is determined
on a final adjudication on the merits that the alleged act, error,
or omission of the receiver or special deputy receiver giving rise
to the claim:
(1) did not arise out of or by reason of the receiver's
or special deputy receiver's duties or employment; or
(2) was caused by intentional or wilful and wanton
misconduct.
(c) Any indemnification shall first be paid from the assets
of the former charter school. If no assets of the former charter
school are available, the state shall indemnify the receiver or
special deputy receiver.
(d) The attorney general shall represent the receiver or
special deputy receiver:
(1) in all actions relating to a receivership under
this subchapter; and
(2) in any suit challenging an action taken by the
receiver or special deputy receiver in the receiver's or special
deputy receiver's capacity as a receiver unless the conduct was
caused by intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct.
Sec. 12.261. REQUESTED NOTICE. (a) On written request to
the receiver, a person must be placed on the service list to receive
notice of matters filed by the receiver. It is the responsibility
of the person requesting notice to inform the receiver in writing of
any changes in the person's address or to request that the person's
name be deleted from the service list. The receiver may require
that a person on the service list provide confirmation to remain on
the service list. Any person who fails to confirm the person's
intent to remain on the service list may be purged from the service
list. Inclusion on the service list does not confer standing in the
receivership proceeding to raise, appear, or be heard on any issue.
(b) Notice of a proposed disposition plan to a person on the
service list must be provided as established by Section 12.265.
Sec. 12.262. APPROVAL AND PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. (a) The
receiver shall submit an estimate of expenses to the receivership
court for approval.
(b) The receiver may pay any expenses under contracts,
leases, employment agreements, or other arrangements entered into
by the former charter school before receivership from the assets of
the former charter school. The receiver is not required to pay any
expenses that the receiver determines are not necessary and may
reject any contract under Section 12.257.
(c) The receiver may deposit former charter school funds in
the charter school liquidation account established under Section
12.269 and pay former charter school expenses from that account.
(d) If a special deputy receiver has been appointed to pay
certain expenses and the special deputy receiver has insufficient
funds to pay those expenses from the assets of the former charter
school, the special deputy receiver may request that the receiver
draw funds from the charter school liquidation account established
under Section 12.269 to pay the expenses.
(e) If the receiver determines that the expenses under
Subsection (d) are necessary, the receiver may withdraw the amount
necessary to pay the expenses of the receivership.
Sec. 12.263. PRIORITIZATION AND SATISFACTION OF DEBTS. (a)
The state, commissioner, or receiver may not be held liable for the
debts or liabilities incurred by a former charter school.
(b) The receiver shall satisfy debts of a former charter
school in accordance with a proposed disposition plan after payment
of:
(1) debts to state and federal governmental entities,
including payments to a conservator, monitor, superintendent, or
member of a board of managers or management;
(2) perfected liens;
(3) secured debts; and
(4) expenses of the receivership.
(c) After satisfaction of the debts and expenses listed in
Subsection (b), any remaining state assets of a former charter
school shall be used to satisfy debts in the following priority,
unless otherwise ordered by the receivership court:
(1) salary owed to non-administrative faculty and
staff;
(2) unpaid, unsecured rent on leasehold;
(3) vendors; and
(4) any other debts recognized by law.
Sec. 12.264. PROPOSED DISPOSITION PLAN. (a) The receiver
shall file with the court a proposed disposition plan that accounts
for:
(1) the disposition of all known assets of the former
charter school; and
(2) the amount of all expenses that the receiver may
incur.
(b) The proposed disposition plan must specifically
identify any property that is not considered to be public property
under Section 12.128.
(c) If the commissioner appoints a special deputy receiver
to develop the disposition plan, the special deputy receiver must
present the plan to the commissioner for approval before filing the
plan with the court.
Sec. 12.265. NOTICE OF PROPOSED DISPOSITION PLAN. (a)
Unless the receivership court otherwise directs, the receiver shall
give notice of the proposed disposition plan as soon as possible:
(1) by first class mail or electronic communication as
permitted by the receivership court to:
(A) any person known or reasonably expected to
have a claim against the former charter school, at the person's last
known address as indicated by the records of the former charter
school;
(B) each state and federal agency with an
interest in the proceeding; and
(C) any person on the service list under Section
12.261; and
(2) by publication in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county in which the principal place of business
of the former charter school was located, in any county in which the
former charter holder operated a school, and in any other location
as the receiver deems appropriate.
(b) The notice of the proposed disposition plan must contain
or provide directions for obtaining the following information:
(1) a statement that the former charter school has
ceased to operate and that the commissioner has taken possession
and assumed control of the school's assets under Section 12.128;
(2) a statement of the date, time, and location of any
initial status hearing scheduled at the time the notice is sent;
(3) a description of the process for obtaining notice
of matters before the receivership court; and
(4) any other information the receiver or the
receivership court deems appropriate.
(c) If notice is given in accordance with this section, the
distribution of property of the former charter school under this
subchapter is conclusive with respect to all claimants, regardless
of whether the claimant received notice.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
the receiver has no duty to locate any person if an address is not
found in the records of the former charter school or if mailings are
returned to the receiver because of the inability to deliver to the
address shown in the records of the school. If notice is not given
to a person as provided by this subsection, notice by publication or
actual notice received is sufficient.
(e) Written certification by the receiver or other
knowledgeable person acting for the receiver that the notice was
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or that the
notice has been electronically transmitted is prima facie evidence
of mailing and receipt of notice. All claimants shall keep the
receiver informed of any changes of address.
Sec. 12.266. HEARING AND APPEAL ON DISPOSITION PLAN. (a)
Any party objecting to the proposed disposition plan must file an
objection specifying the grounds for the objection not later than
the 45th day after the date of the notice of the filing of the
proposed disposition plan or within another period as the
receivership court may set. An objection must also be served on the
receiver and any other person served with the proposed disposition
plan. An objecting party has the burden of showing why the
receivership court should not authorize the proposed disposition
plan or any other action proposed by the receiver.
(b) If no objection to the proposed disposition plan is
timely filed, the receivership court shall enter an order approving
the application without a hearing. The receiver may request that
the receivership court enter an order or hold a hearing on any
outstanding motions on an expedited basis.
(c) If an objection is timely filed, the receivership court
may hold a hearing. If the receivership court approves the proposed
disposition plan and, on a motion by the receiver, determines that
the objection was frivolous or filed for delay or for another
improper purpose, the receivership court shall order the objecting
party to pay the receiver's reasonable costs and fees of defending
the action.
Sec. 12.267. LIQUIDATION ORDER. (a) When the receiver has
disposed of all assets according to the proposed disposition plan
approved by the court, the receiver shall promptly apply to the
receivership court for entry of a liquidation order.
(b) On demonstration to the court that the receiver has
complied with the disposition plan and all assets have been
disposed of in accordance with the plan, the court shall enter a
liquidation order discharging the receiver and closing the
receivership.
(c) A liquidation order under this subchapter is final and
may not be appealed.
Sec. 12.268. DISPOSITION OF REMAINING FUNDS. After a
liquidation order has been entered, the commissioner shall deposit
any remaining funds from the former charter school in the charter
school liquidation account established under Section 12.269.
Sec. 12.269. CHARTER SCHOOL LIQUIDATION ACCOUNT. (a) The
commissioner shall remit to the comptroller funds received under
Sections 12.116 and 12.128 and this subchapter for deposit in an
interest-bearing deposit account in the Texas Treasury Safekeeping
Trust Company to be known as the charter school liquidation
account. Money in the account may be spent by the commissioner only
for the purposes provided by this section.
(b) The charter school liquidation account shall be
administered by the commissioner to pay the expenses incurred
during a receivership of any former charter school.
(c) The commissioner shall annually review the charter
school liquidation account and transfer any funds exceeding $2
million to the comptroller for deposit in the charter district bond
guarantee reserve fund established under Section 45.0571. The
commissioner may delay a transfer under this subsection if the
excess does not exceed $100,000.
Sec. 12.270. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules
necessary to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.