86R2357 GCB-D By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 500 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to reimbursement for disaster remediation costs of certain school districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 42.2524(c) and (h), Education Code, are amended to read as follows: (c) The commissioner may provide reimbursement under this section [only if funds are available for that purpose] as follows: (1) reimbursement for a school district not required to take action under Chapter 41 may be provided from any funds available to the commissioner for that purpose, as determined under rules adopted under this section[: [(A) amounts appropriated for that purpose, including amounts appropriated for those districts for that purpose to the disaster contingency fund established under Section 418.073, Government Code; or [(B) Foundation School Program funds available for that purpose, based on a determination by the commissioner that the amount appropriated for the Foundation School Program, including the facilities component as provided by Chapter 46, exceeds the amount to which districts are entitled under this chapter and Chapter 46]; and (2) reimbursement for a school district required to take action under Chapter 41 may be provided from funds described by Subdivision (1) [(1)(B)] if funds remain available after fully reimbursing each school district described by Subdivision (1) for its disaster remediation costs. (h) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules: (1) defining "disaster remediation costs" for purposes of this section; (2) identifying funds available to the commissioner to provide reimbursement of disaster remediation costs under this section; and (3) specifying the type of documentation required under Subsection (e). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.