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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the commissioner of education accepting contributions |
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for the public school system, adopting rules regarding grant |
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compliance, and establishing grants for high-quality educational |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 7.055(b), Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (42) to read as follows: |
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(42) The commissioner may accept a gift, grant, |
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donation, or other contribution on behalf of the public school |
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system or agency and, unless otherwise specified by the donor, may |
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use the contribution in the manner the commissioner determines. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.067 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.067. GRANT COMPLIANCE. (a) The commissioner may: |
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(1) adopt rules to ensure that recipients of |
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state-funded grants administered by the commissioner or the agency |
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are in compliance with grant requirements; and |
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(2) require a grant recipient to provide information |
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to the agency detailing grant compliance. |
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(b) The commissioner may direct the agency to make a site |
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visit to a grant recipient to review the recipient's compliance |
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with grant requirements. A review conducted under this subsection |
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is not subject to Section 7.028 or 39.056. |
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(c) If the commissioner finds that a grant recipient is not |
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in compliance with grant requirements, the commissioner may: |
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(1) seek the remittance of the grant funds; and |
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(2) withhold funding authorized under Section 12.106 |
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or Chapter 42 or any other state funding in an amount sufficient to |
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recover the grant funds provided to the recipient. |
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(d) A decision of the commissioner regarding grant |
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compliance, including a decision to withhold funding under |
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Subsection (c), is final and may not be appealed. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.924 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.924. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GRANTS. |
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(a) The commissioner shall establish a competitive grant program |
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to assist school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in |
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implementing high-quality educational programs. |
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(b) The commissioner may adopt rules on the use of grant |
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funds under this section, including rules determining eligibility, |
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award amount, and any restrictions. The commissioner may authorize |
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a grant recipient or a tax-exempt organization contracting with the |
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grant recipient to use grant funds for facility purposes and |
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performance-based incentives. |
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(c) The commissioner may make grants under this section |
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using funds from available sources, including gifts, grants, and |
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donations accepted by the commissioner. A decision of the |
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commissioner concerning the amount of funds available for a grant |
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is final and may not be appealed. |
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SECTION 4. The commissioner of education is required to |
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implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money |
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specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not |
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appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner |
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of education may, but is not required to, implement this Act using |
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other appropriations available for the purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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