Bill Text: TX SB960 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 960 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved through a taxpayer savings grant program administered by the comptroller of public accounts.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-21 - Co-author authorized [SB960 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB960-Introduced.html

	88R6356 KJE-F

	By: Campbell	S.B. No. 960



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved
	through a taxpayer savings grant program administered by the
	comptroller of public accounts.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 48.266, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
	(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the commissioner
	shall adjust enrollment estimates and entitlement for each school
	district for each school year based on information provided by the
	comptroller under Section 48.351(f). This subsection expires
	September 1, 2028.
	SECTION 2. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding
	Subchapter H to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER H. TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANTS
	Sec. 48.351. TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this
	section:
	(1) "Eligible student" means a school-age child who
	resides in the state and who:
	(A) is entering kindergarten or first grade;
	(B) attended a public school for the entire
	school year immediately preceding initial participation in the
	Taxpayer Savings Grant Program; or
	(C) participated in the program in a preceding
	school year.
	(2) "Private school" means a school that:
	(A) offers a course of instruction for elementary
	or secondary students;
	(B) is not operated by a governmental entity; and
	(C) is not a home school.
	(b) A parent or legal guardian of an eligible student may
	receive reimbursement from the state for the tuition paid for the
	enrollment of the eligible student at a private school in an amount
	that is the lesser of:
	(1) the tuition paid; or
	(2) 60 percent of the amount of state funding per
	student provided under Section 12.106.
	(c) Money from the available school fund and federal funds
	may not be used for reimbursement under this section.
	(d) A private school voluntarily selected by a parent for
	the parent's child to attend, with or without governmental
	assistance, may not be required to comply with any state law or rule
	governing the school's educational program that was not in effect
	on January 1, 2023.
	(e) The comptroller shall administer the program and
	provide reimbursement to a parent or legal guardian of an eligible
	student as authorized by this section.
	(f) Not later than October 1 of each year, the comptroller
	shall notify the commissioner and the Legislative Budget Board of
	the number of eligible students likely to participate in the
	program, disaggregated by the school district or open-enrollment
	charter school the eligible students would otherwise attend. Not
	later than March 1 of each year, the comptroller shall provide final
	information to the commissioner and the Legislative Budget Board
	regarding the number of students participating in the program,
	disaggregated in the same manner as the initial information.
	SECTION 3. As soon as practicable, but not later than
	October 15, 2023, the comptroller, in coordination with the
	commissioner of education, shall adopt rules to implement the
	Taxpayer Savings Grant Program under Section 48.351, Education
	Code, as added by this Act, including rules to prevent fraud in
	financial transactions under the program and to determine the net
	savings resulting from implementation of the program. The rules
	must require reconciliation of payments for all grants within the
	same fiscal year or within the first month following the end of the
	fiscal year.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.