HBA-JEK H.B. 3513 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3513 By: Hamric Public Education 4/9/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Funding for the instructional facilities allotment has not kept pace with the need to construct and modify educational facilities. Many of the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school year applications for instructional facilities allotment funding were denied because state money was not available. House Bill 3513 increases the existing debt tax rate and requires the commissioner of education to award state aid to the applications in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years that were denied solely because state money was not available. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3513 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education (commissioner) to award state assistance for each new project for which a school district requested assistance through the instructional facilities allotment during the 1999-2000 or 2000-2001 school year but did not receive assistance solely because state money was not available. This provision applies only if the total amount appropriated for a year for new projects is less than the amount of money to which school districts applying for state assistance are entitled for that year. To be eligible for assistance under this provision, a district must submit an updated application and demonstrate that the district did not pursue the project because of the lack of available assistance. The bill requires the commissioner, after providing assistance under this provision, to rank each remaining school district applying by wealth per student. The bill changes from $0.12 per $100 of valuation to $0.29 per $100 of valuation the maximum amount authorized for the existing debt tax rate. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.