84R11749 KKA-F
By: West S.B. No. 1751
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of funding under the foundation school
program on the basis of property values that exclude one-half of
optional homestead exemptions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 7.062(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if the
commissioner certifies that the amount appropriated for a state
fiscal year for purposes of Subchapters A and B, Chapter 46, exceeds
the amount to which school districts are entitled under those
subchapters for that year, the commissioner shall use the excess
funds, in an amount not to exceed $20 million in any state fiscal
year, for the purpose of making grants under this section. The use
of excess funds under this subsection has priority over any
provision of Chapter 42 that permits or directs the use of excess
foundation school program funds, including Sections 42.2517,
42.2521, [42.2522,] and 42.2531. The commissioner is required to
use excess funds as provided by this subsection only if the
commissioner is not required to reduce the total amount of state
funds allocated to school districts under Section 42.253(h).
SECTION 2. Section 42.261(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Funds appropriated by the legislature for a tax year for
the purpose of reducing a school district's maintenance and
operations tax rate and providing state aid under Section 42.2516:
(1) are not excess funds for purposes of Section
42.2517;
(2) are not available for purposes of Section 42.2521
[or 42.2522];
(3) may not be used for purposes of Chapter 46; and
(4) may not be provided by the commissioner to a school
district for a purpose other than reduction of the district's
maintenance and operations tax rate.
SECTION 3. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 42.2522, Education Code; and
(2) Section 403.302(k), Government Code.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.