Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3707 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R11296 BDP-F
2	2	By: Huberty H.B. No. 3707
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements
8	8	to funding for special education in public schools.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding
11	11	Subchapter H to read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
13	13	Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
14	14	means the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding.
15	15	Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING.
16	16	(a) The commission is established to develop and make
17	17	recommendations regarding methods of financing special education
18	18	in public schools.
19	19	(b) The commission is composed of 13 members, appointed as
20	20	follows:
21	21	(1) four members appointed by the governor;
22	22	(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
23	23	(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house
24	24	of representatives; and
25	25	(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as
26	26	designated by the chair of that board.
27	27	(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),
28	28	and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
29	29	house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that membership
30	30	of the commission, to the extent possible, reflects the ethnic and
31	31	geographic diversity of this state.
32	32	(d) The members appointed by:
33	33	(1) the governor must have an interest in public
34	34	education and at least include:
35	35	(A) one member who is a current or retired
36	36	classroom teacher with at least 10 years of experience teaching
37	37	special education;
38	38	(B) one member of the business community with
39	39	experience employing individuals with disabilities; and
40	40	(C) one person who is a member of an organization
41	41	with the purpose of supporting students and families serviced by
42	42	special education;
43	43	(2) the lieutenant governor must include three members
44	44	of the senate and one administrator of a public school; and
45	45	(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must
46	46	include three members of the house of representatives and one
47	47	administrator of a public school.
48	48	Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
49	49	designate the presiding officer of the commission.
50	50	Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
51	51	the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
52	52	commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
53	53	necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
54	54	Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The
55	55	agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.
56	56	(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
57	57	of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation
58	58	made to the agency for that purpose.
59	59	Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall
60	60	develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues
61	61	related to special education funding, including:
62	62	(1) policy changes to the public school finance system
63	63	to improve funding of special education; and
64	64	(2) an analysis of and recommendations for a new
65	65	system, including a matrix-based system that bases funding on the
66	66	nature and intensity levels of special education services necessary
67	67	to meet the needs of the student.
68	68	(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups
69	69	composed of not more than five members of the commission to study,
70	70	discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to
71	71	refer to the commission for consideration.
72	72	Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the
73	73	commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and
74	74	the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve
75	75	funding for special education.
76	76	Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)
77	77	The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its
78	78	duties under this subchapter.
79	79	(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
80	80	Government Code.
81	81	Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
82	82	SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter
83	83	expires January 1, 2023.
84	84	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
85	85	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
86	86	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
87	87	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
88	88	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.