HBA-JEK H.B. 3513 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3513
By: Hamric
Public Education
4/9/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Funding for the instructional facilities allotment has not kept pace with
the need to construct and modify educational facilities.  Many of the
1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school year applications for instructional
facilities allotment funding were denied because state money was not
available.  House Bill 3513 increases the existing debt tax rate and
requires the commissioner of education to award state aid to the
applications in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years that were denied
solely because state money was not available. 

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 3513 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of
education (commissioner) to award state assistance for each new project for
which a school district requested assistance through the instructional
facilities allotment during the 1999-2000 or 2000-2001 school year but did
not receive assistance solely because state money was not available.  This
provision applies only if the total amount appropriated for a year for new
projects is less than the amount of money to which school districts
applying for state assistance are entitled for that year.  To be eligible
for assistance under this provision, a district must submit an updated
application and demonstrate that the district did not pursue the project
because of the lack of available assistance.  The bill requires the
commissioner, after providing assistance under this provision, to rank each
remaining school district applying by wealth per student. 

The bill changes from $0.12 per $100 of valuation to $0.29 per $100 of
valuation the maximum amount authorized for the existing debt tax rate. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.