By: Isaac H.B. No. 4475       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a program to serve students who's safety at school is in   jeopardy.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter J to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER J. SAFETY PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM          Sec. 48.600.  AVOIDANCE CHOICE. Notwithstanding any other   provision of this code, as provided by this subchapter an eligible   student may attend a public school in the district in which the   student resides or may use a safety protection grant to attend   another district, or accredited private school chosen by the   student's parent.          Sec. 48.601.  ELIGIBILITY.          A student is eligible to receive a safety protection grant to   attend another school if the student's parents determine that the   student's safety is in jeopardy.          Sec. 48.602.  FINANCING. (a) A student who under this   subchapter uses a safety protection grant to attend a public school   in a school district other than the district in which the student   resides is included in the average daily attendance of the district   in which the student attends school.          (b)  A school district is entitled to the allotment provided   by Section 48.107 for each eligible student using a safety   protection grant.  If the district has a local revenue level greater   than the guaranteed local revenue level but less than the level   established under Section 48.257, a school district is entitled   under rules adopted by the commissioner to additional state aid in   an amount equal to the difference between the cost to the district   of providing services to a student using a public education grant   and the sum of the state aid received because of the allotment under   Section 48.107 and money from the available school fund   attributable to the student.          (c)  A school district is entitled to additional facilities   assistance under Section 48.301 if the district agrees to:                (1)  accept a number of students using safety   protection grants that is at least one percent of the district's   average daily attendance for the preceding school year; and                (2)  provide services to each student until the student   either voluntarily decides to attend a different school or   graduates from high school.          (d)  If a parent selects a private school, then funding shall   be calculated as the lesser of the following;                (1)  The amount of funding as calculated under 29.203,   or;                (2)  the actual amount of tuition charged by the   school.          (e)  A school district chosen by a student's parent under   Section 29.201 is entitled to accept or reject the application for   the student to attend school in that district.          (f)  A school district chosen by a student's parent under   Section 29.201 may not charge the student tuition.          Sec. 48.603.  ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS (a) The   commissioner shall adopt rules to implement the program including   the calculation of funding for private school participation.  Rules   shall be designed to prohibit fraud and abuse.  The rules may not in   any form effect or attempt to control the programs, curricula, or   other operations of private schools.          (a)  The comptroller shall establish the safety protection   account in the state treasury.          (b)  No federal funds or Available School Funds shall be used   to fund programs under this subsection.          Sec. 48.604.  SAFETY PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The safety   protection account is established in the foundation school fund and   is administered by the comptroller.          (b)  The account consists of:                (1)  money transferred to the credit of the account   under Section 48.304, Education Code; and                (2)  other amounts appropriated to the account by the   legislature.          (c)  Money in the account may be used only to award grants for   the payment of tuition for enrollment of eligible students at   qualifying schools in the manner prescribed by Section 48.602 and   rules adopted by the comptroller.          (d)  Interest and income from the assets of the account shall   be credited to and deposited in the account.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 48, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 48.304 to read as follows:          Sec. 48.304.  SAFETY PROTECTION GRANT. (a) A person to whom   the commissioner awards a grant under Subchapter J, Chapter 48.601,   Education Code, is entitled to receive an amount equal to the amount   of the grant as provided by that subchapter.          (b)  The agency shall transfer to the credit of the safety   protection account established under Section 48.604, Education   Code, the amount appropriated to the agency for purposes of this   section for use by the comptroller in awarding grants as provided by   Subchapter J, Chapter 48.601, Education Code.          SECTION 3.  The comptroller in cooperation with the   commissioner shall adopt rules to prohibit fraud and abuse and for   implementation of this program.          SECTION 4.  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, 2023.