87R11296 BDP-F
By: Huberty H.B. No. 3707
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements
to funding for special education in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding.
Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING.
(a) The commission is established to develop and make
recommendations regarding methods of financing special education
in public schools.
(b) The commission is composed of 13 members, appointed as
follows:
(1) four members appointed by the governor;
(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives; and
(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as
designated by the chair of that board.
(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),
and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that membership
of the commission, to the extent possible, reflects the ethnic and
geographic diversity of this state.
(d) The members appointed by:
(1) the governor must have an interest in public
education and at least include:
(A) one member who is a current or retired
classroom teacher with at least 10 years of experience teaching
special education;
(B) one member of the business community with
experience employing individuals with disabilities; and
(C) one person who is a member of an organization
with the purpose of supporting students and families serviced by
special education;
(2) the lieutenant governor must include three members
of the senate and one administrator of a public school; and
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must
include three members of the house of representatives and one
administrator of a public school.
Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate the presiding officer of the commission.
Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The
agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation
made to the agency for that purpose.
Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall
develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues
related to special education funding, including:
(1) policy changes to the public school finance system
to improve funding of special education; and
(2) an analysis of and recommendations for a new
system, including a matrix-based system that bases funding on the
nature and intensity levels of special education services necessary
to meet the needs of the student.
(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups
composed of not more than five members of the commission to study,
discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to
refer to the commission for consideration.
Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the
commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and
the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve
funding for special education.
Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)
The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its
duties under this subchapter.
(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter
expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.