By: Isaac H.B. No. 4475
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a program to serve students who's safety at school is in
  jeopardy.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. SAFETY PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 48.600.  AVOIDANCE CHOICE. Notwithstanding any other
  provision of this code, as provided by this subchapter an eligible
  student may attend a public school in the district in which the
  student resides or may use a safety protection grant to attend
  another district, or accredited private school chosen by the
  student's parent.
         Sec. 48.601.  ELIGIBILITY.
         A student is eligible to receive a safety protection grant to
  attend another school if the student's parents determine that the
  student's safety is in jeopardy.
         Sec. 48.602.  FINANCING. (a) A student who under this
  subchapter uses a safety protection grant to attend a public school
  in a school district other than the district in which the student
  resides is included in the average daily attendance of the district
  in which the student attends school.
         (b)  A school district is entitled to the allotment provided
  by Section 48.107 for each eligible student using a safety
  protection grant.  If the district has a local revenue level greater
  than the guaranteed local revenue level but less than the level
  established under Section 48.257, a school district is entitled
  under rules adopted by the commissioner to additional state aid in
  an amount equal to the difference between the cost to the district
  of providing services to a student using a public education grant
  and the sum of the state aid received because of the allotment under
  Section 48.107 and money from the available school fund
  attributable to the student.
         (c)  A school district is entitled to additional facilities
  assistance under Section 48.301 if the district agrees to:
               (1)  accept a number of students using safety
  protection grants that is at least one percent of the district's
  average daily attendance for the preceding school year; and
               (2)  provide services to each student until the student
  either voluntarily decides to attend a different school or
  graduates from high school.
         (d)  If a parent selects a private school, then funding shall
  be calculated as the lesser of the following;
               (1)  The amount of funding as calculated under 29.203,
  or;
               (2)  the actual amount of tuition charged by the
  school.
         (e)  A school district chosen by a student's parent under
  Section 29.201 is entitled to accept or reject the application for
  the student to attend school in that district.
         (f)  A school district chosen by a student's parent under
  Section 29.201 may not charge the student tuition.
         Sec. 48.603.  ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS (a) The
  commissioner shall adopt rules to implement the program including
  the calculation of funding for private school participation.  Rules
  shall be designed to prohibit fraud and abuse.  The rules may not in
  any form effect or attempt to control the programs, curricula, or
  other operations of private schools.
         (a)  The comptroller shall establish the safety protection
  account in the state treasury.
         (b)  No federal funds or Available School Funds shall be used
  to fund programs under this subsection.
         Sec. 48.604.  SAFETY PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The safety
  protection account is established in the foundation school fund and
  is administered by the comptroller.
         (b)  The account consists of:
               (1)  money transferred to the credit of the account
  under Section 48.304, Education Code; and
               (2)  other amounts appropriated to the account by the
  legislature.
         (c)  Money in the account may be used only to award grants for
  the payment of tuition for enrollment of eligible students at
  qualifying schools in the manner prescribed by Section 48.602 and
  rules adopted by the comptroller.
         (d)  Interest and income from the assets of the account shall
  be credited to and deposited in the account.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 48.304 to read as follows:
         Sec. 48.304.  SAFETY PROTECTION GRANT. (a) A person to whom
  the commissioner awards a grant under Subchapter J, Chapter 48.601,
  Education Code, is entitled to receive an amount equal to the amount
  of the grant as provided by that subchapter.
         (b)  The agency shall transfer to the credit of the safety
  protection account established under Section 48.604, Education
  Code, the amount appropriated to the agency for purposes of this
  section for use by the comptroller in awarding grants as provided by
  Subchapter J, Chapter 48.601, Education Code.
         SECTION 3.  The comptroller in cooperation with the
  commissioner shall adopt rules to prohibit fraud and abuse and for
  implementation of this program.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2023.