CS HB 2, the school finance reform legislation, is now in conference committee. The conferees will attempt to work out difference in the House version and the Senate version.  While the House version did not include all recommendations that came out of the AFP working group, it did include some but the Senate version includes NONE. Some legislators have been quoted in the media stating they have been meeting and coordinating with the education unions, but we have yet to hear members stress that they have worked with taxpayers to craft legislation.     Let conference committee members hear from YOU, the taxpayer.  Call and tell them you want the following taxpayer recommendations included in the conference committee bill.  Our members worked long and hard on these recommendations and they are reasonable. Please call today! Conference Committee Members are: (Chair) Rep. Kent Grusendorf (R-Arlington) (512) 463-0624 Rep. Dianne White Delisi (R-Temple) (512) 463-0630 Rep. Bill Keffer (R-Dallas), (512) 463-0244 Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas), (512) 463-0367 Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) (512) 463-0797 Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) (512) 463-0108 Sen. Ken Armbrister (D-Victoria) (512) 463-0118 Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) (512) 463-0123 Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) (512) 463-0128 Sen. Kyle Janek (R-Houston) (512) 463-0117    Taxpayer Recommendations: Prohibit ISD’s, school administrators, the PTA and school associations from lobbying with taxpayer dollars.   Eliminate special treatment of the PTA by school districts.                HB 2 had disclosure requirements for school districts, employees, clubs and                organizations.                Senate version – no corresponding language. Ban school districts from using tax dollars to join lawsuits to sue for more taxpayer money.                   No corresponding language in CS HB 2 or the Senate version. Provide additional financial information to taxpayers and make that information more easily accessible.  Voters need concise, easily accessible information in order to make informed decisions about their money and who will represent their interest when their money is spent.                   HB 2 – required some additional information.                Senate version – requires reporting of instructional cost made available to                  taxpayers. Amend CS GB 2 to specifically include prohibition of expending school funds to promote bond elections through brochures, videos, and use of school facilities.                No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. Specify what can be paid for with bond money.  Exclude anything other than real property, construction on real property, including buses and computers and equipment. The Attorney General’s Office should sign off before bonds can be issued.  This office would insure that real property only is included when issuing.                No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. Mandate line item vetoes for bonds.                No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. School board elections and bond elections should be held with November elections.    Districts could save money – and increase participation -- by combining bond elections with regular elections in November.                  HB 2 provided for school board elections in November                Senate version - No corresponding language in the Senate version. Penalties for noncompliance with open records and open meetings regulations should be increased and not paid from taxpayer dollars.                No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. Allow individuals to be issued a Temporary Certificate for Superintendent or Principal by the district.  Provided they have business degrees and several years experience.                HB 2 allowed for temporary certificates for Superintendents and required that                continuing education must be provided by entities with recognized business                management.                Senate version - No corresponding language in the Senate version. School audits by the Legislative Budget Board only look at the process of financial management but should also look at fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.                   No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. News accounts have been ripe with accounts of kickbacks on school construction.    Authority should be delegated to the SBOE to create building standards with a maximum cost per square foot.                  No corresponding language in HB 2 or the Senate version. Clearly delineate instructional cost as those directly related to teaching children and non-instructional expenditures to support services so taxpayers can see what they are paying for.                HB 2 required information gathered by PIEMS to report instructional and                non-instructional expenditures.  It did not mandate revisions in the definition of                instruction.                The Senate version requires that school reports include administrative and                instructional costs per student.   However, the legislation, in defining                instructional and administrative costs, includes many administrative costs in                  the definition of instructional costs.                                                            Back to Legislation

Comparison of HB 2 with the Senate Substitute Are taxpayer recommendations included? What can Taxpayers do to insure our interests are given priority? Action Alert!

Americans for Prosperity and AFP Foundation - (formerly CSE Foundation) 807 Brazos St, #210, Austin, TX   78701-9996 phone: 512/476-5905; fax: 512/476-5906 email: pvenable@afphq.org; website: www.americansforprosperity.org