84R2665 KJE-F
By: Campbell S.B. No. 276
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved
through a taxpayer savings grant program administered by the
comptroller of public accounts.
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, 2020.
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 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, 2015.
(e) The comptroller shall administer the program and
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
October 15, 2015, 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. The rules
must require reconciliation of payments for all grants within the
same fiscal year or within the first month following the end of the
fiscal year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.