Bill Text: TX HB3707 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements to funding for special education in public schools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-22 - Referred to Public Education [HB3707 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3707-Introduced.html
87R11296 BDP-F | ||
By: Huberty | H.B. No. 3707 |
|
||
|
||
relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements | ||
to funding for special education in public schools. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter H to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING | ||
Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" | ||
means the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding. | ||
Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. | ||
(a) The commission is established to develop and make | ||
recommendations regarding methods of financing special education | ||
in public schools. | ||
(b) The commission is composed of 13 members, appointed as | ||
follows: | ||
(1) four members appointed by the governor; | ||
(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; | ||
(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives; and | ||
(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as | ||
designated by the chair of that board. | ||
(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), | ||
and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the | ||
house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that membership | ||
of the commission, to the extent possible, reflects the ethnic and | ||
geographic diversity of this state. | ||
(d) The members appointed by: | ||
(1) the governor must have an interest in public | ||
education and at least include: | ||
(A) one member who is a current or retired | ||
classroom teacher with at least 10 years of experience teaching | ||
special education; | ||
(B) one member of the business community with | ||
experience employing individuals with disabilities; and | ||
(C) one person who is a member of an organization | ||
with the purpose of supporting students and families serviced by | ||
special education; | ||
(2) the lieutenant governor must include three members | ||
of the senate and one administrator of a public school; and | ||
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must | ||
include three members of the house of representatives and one | ||
administrator of a public school. | ||
Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall | ||
designate the presiding officer of the commission. | ||
Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of | ||
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the | ||
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and | ||
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. | ||
Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The | ||
agency shall provide administrative support for the commission. | ||
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses | ||
of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation | ||
made to the agency for that purpose. | ||
Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall | ||
develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues | ||
related to special education funding, including: | ||
(1) policy changes to the public school finance system | ||
to improve funding of special education; and | ||
(2) an analysis of and recommendations for a new | ||
system, including a matrix-based system that bases funding on the | ||
nature and intensity levels of special education services necessary | ||
to meet the needs of the student. | ||
(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups | ||
composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, | ||
discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to | ||
refer to the commission for consideration. | ||
Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the | ||
commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and | ||
the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve | ||
funding for special education. | ||
Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) | ||
The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its | ||
duties under this subchapter. | ||
(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, | ||
Government Code. | ||
Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF | ||
SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter | ||
expires January 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 2. 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, 2021. |