Bill Text: TX HB2923 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas House Bill 2923

Bill Title: Relating to the operation of free prekindergarten programs by certain school districts and to the early education allotment under the Foundation School Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-10 - Postponed 2/17/24 10:00 AM [HB2923 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2923-Comm_Sub.html

	88R22296 CXP-F

	By: Dutton	H.B. No. 2923

	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2923:

	By: Buckley	C.S.H.B. No. 2923



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the operation of free prekindergarten programs by
	certain school districts and to the early education allotment under
	the Foundation School Program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 29.153, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsections (d-3), (d-4), and (d-5) to read as follows:
	(d-3) A school district shall contract with a
	community-based child-care provider described by Subsection (g) to
	provide a prekindergarten class required under this section if the
	commissioner determines that:
	(1) a district election for the purpose of issuing
	bonds for the construction or repurposing of a classroom facility
	to provide the prekindergarten class has failed in the 24 months
	preceding the determination; or
	(2) the district is unable to adequately staff the
	prekindergarten class.
	(d-4) The commissioner may waive the requirement under
	Subsection (d-3) if the commissioner determines that a
	community-based child-care provider described by Subsection (g) is
	not located in the boundaries of the district.
	(d-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
	the commissioner shall interpret Subsection (d-3) to the broadest
	extent possible to encourage partnerships between school districts
	and community-based child-care providers described by Subsection
	(g).
	SECTION 2. Section 48.108, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4) to read as
	follows:
	(a-1) In addition to the allotment under Subsection (a) and
	subject to Subsection (a-2), a school district is entitled to an
	annual allotment equal to the basic allotment multiplied by 0.2 for
	each student in average daily attendance enrolled in a
	prekindergarten class provided through a contract with a
	community-based child-care provider under Section 29.153.
	(a-2) The total number of students in average daily
	attendance statewide for whom an allotment may be provided under
	Subsection (a-1) for a school year may not exceed 10,000 students in
	average daily attendance. If the number of students in average
	daily attendance for whom a school district is entitled to an
	allotment under this section exceeds the maximum number provided by
	this subsection, the commissioner shall allocate the allotments to
	school districts under this section in accordance with commissioner
	rule.
	(a-3) Notwithstanding Subsection (a-2), the maximum number
	of students in average daily attendance statewide for whom an
	allotment may be provided under Subsection (a-1) for a school year
	is:
	(1) for the 2024-2025 school year, 2,000 students;
	(2) for the 2025-2026 school year, 4,500 students; and
	(3) for the 2026-2027 school year, 7,000 students.
	(a-4) Subsection (a-3) and this subsection expire September
	1, 2027.
	SECTION 3. Sections 29.153(d-3), (d-4), and (d-5),
	Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with the
	2023-2024 school year.
	SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
	section:
	(1) 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; and
	(2) if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
	(b) Sections 48.108(a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4),
	Education Code, as added by this Act, take effect September 1, 2024.