HBA-TBM, CCH H.B. 1346 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1346 By: Tillery Public Education 4/9/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the existing debt tax rate (EDTR) for school districts is prohibited from exceeding 12 cents per $100 valuation. This cap has left many districts of average or below average wealth with millions of dollars in unequalized debt. Removing the cap would allow school districts the maximum credit for the amount of debt financed locally. House Bill 1346 removes the cap on EDTR. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1346 amends the Education Code to remove the provision that prohibits the existing debt tax rate of a school district from exceeding 12 cents per $100 of valuation or a greater amount for any year provided by appropriation. The bill removes the provision that authorizes the commissioner to provide assistance to school districts from funds available in excess of the amount to which school districts are entitled for a school year. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.