Bill Text: TX HB2976 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the transportation allotments provided under the Foundation School Program to school districts that permit students to select a campus of attendance.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-16 - Referred to Public Education [HB2976 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2976-Introduced.html
  84R11725 KKA-D
 
  By: Anderson of Dallas H.B. No. 2976
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the transportation allotments provided under the
  Foundation School Program to school districts that permit students
  to select a campus of attendance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 42.155(b), Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subdivision (3) and adding Subdivision (4) to read as
  follows:
               (3)  "Linear density" means:
                     (A)  for purposes of Subsection (c), the average
  number of regular eligible students transported daily, divided by
  the approved daily route miles traveled by the [respective]
  transportation system; and
                     (B)  for purposes of Subsection (c-1), the average
  number of school choice eligible students transported daily,
  divided by the approved daily route miles traveled by the
  transportation system.
               (4)  "School choice eligible student" means a student
  who:
                     (A)  chooses to attend a campus other than the
  campus to which the student would regularly be assigned because the
  campus of choice offers unique academic programs not available at
  the regularly assigned campus;
                     (B)  resides two or more miles from the student's
  campus of choice, measured along the shortest route that may be
  traveled on public roads; and
                     (C)  is not classified as a student eligible for
  special education services.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (c-1)  This subsection applies only to a district that offers
  students residing in the district a variety of choices in selecting
  a campus for attendance and provides transportation to the selected
  campus at no cost to the students. The choices of campus offered
  must represent multiple factors, such as the sex of students
  enrolled at the campus, the subject matter or learning methods
  emphasized at the campus, and the degree to which athletic and other
  extracurricular activities are available at the campus. In
  addition to the regular transportation allotment under Subsection
  (c), a district is entitled to an allotment based on the daily cost
  per school choice eligible student of operating and maintaining the
  transportation system for school choice eligible students and the
  linear density of that system. In determining the cost, the
  commissioner shall give consideration to factors affecting the
  actual cost of providing those transportation services in the
  district. The average actual cost is to be computed by the
  commissioner and included for consideration by the legislature in
  the General Appropriations Act. The allotment per mile of approved
  route may not exceed the amount set by appropriation.
         (d)  A district or county may apply for and on approval of the
  commissioner receive an additional amount of up to 10 percent of its
  regular transportation allotment under Subsection (c) to be used
  for the transportation of children living within two miles of the
  school they attend who would be subject to hazardous traffic
  conditions if they walked to school. Each board of trustees shall
  provide to the commissioner the definition of hazardous conditions
  applicable to that district and shall identify the specific
  hazardous areas for which the allocation is requested. A hazardous
  condition exists where no walkway is provided and children must
  walk along or cross a freeway or expressway, an underpass, an
  overpass or a bridge, an uncontrolled major traffic artery, an
  industrial or commercial area, or another comparable condition.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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