85R1189 GCB-F     By: Garcia S.B. No. 192       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a comprehensive review by the Texas Education Agency of   weights, allotments, and adjustments under the public school   finance system.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 42, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 42.010 to read as follows:          Sec. 42.010.  COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE   WEIGHTS, ALLOTMENTS, AND ADJUSTMENTS. (a) The agency shall   conduct a comprehensive review of weights, allotments, and   adjustments under the public school finance system, including all   current weights, allotments, and adjustments provided under this   chapter and any additional weights, allotments, and adjustments   that the agency determines may be appropriate.  The review must   determine the effectiveness of existing weights, allotments, and   adjustments in fulfilling the mission of the public education   system stated in Section 4.001(a) and furthering the state policy   stated in Section 42.001. At a minimum, the review must determine   how closely and appropriately each of the following elements   reflects and provides financing for costs beyond the control of   school districts:                (1)  adjustments for costs related to the geographic   variation in known resource costs and costs of education,   controlling for the impact of unequalized wealth and hold-harmless   provisions, and properly reflecting the impact of high   concentrations of poverty on the compensation that school districts   must pay to attract and retain teachers of comparable or   appropriate quality;                (2)  adjustments for costs related to the size and   diseconomies of scale of school districts;                (3)  adjustments for costs related to the varying   instructional needs and characteristics of students and the extent   to which the adjustments provide each student with access to   programs and services that are appropriate to the student's   educational needs;                (4)  other factors, in addition to economic status,   that correlate to at-risk status and the need for compensatory   education, and the degree to which those factors correspond to   additional educational costs; and                (5)  the manner in which the cost adjustments are   applied to and affect the overall school finance system.          (b)  The review of the adjustments described in Subsection   (a)(1) must:                (1)  address all uncontrollable costs that can   reasonably be quantified;                (2)  consider the qualifications, experience, and   turnover rate of personnel and the impact of those factors on   student achievement in considering the adequacy and comparability   of salaries;                (3)  properly address the impact of factors that have a   large impact on certain types of school districts, such as extreme   isolation, regardless of general state impact;                (4)  include only factors for which a rational economic   argument can be made;                (5)  be carefully constructed to make sure that a cost   factor does not significantly affect more than one variable; and                (6)  not be artificially adjusted to meet predetermined   outcomes and must not use arbitrary limits.          (c)  In determining whether any additional weights,   allotments, and adjustments are appropriate under the public school   finance system, as required by Subsection (a), the agency shall   include consideration of an additional weight for educational   services provided to students in prekindergarten on a half-day   basis and on a full-day basis.          (d)  The agency may contract with one or more consultants if   necessary to enable the agency to perform its duties under this   section.          (e)  The Legislative Budget Board, the comptroller, the   state auditor, and any other state agency, official, or personnel   shall cooperate with the agency in carrying out its duties under   this section.          (f)  Not later than December 1, 2018, the agency shall   provide a report that:                (1)  states the findings of the review conducted under   this section; and                (2)  includes recommendations for updated weights,   allotments, and adjustments and any other statutory changes   considered appropriate by the agency.          (g)  This section expires January 1, 2019.          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, 2017.