85R9709 PAM-D     By: Lucio S.B. No. 2112       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to creating a single countywide school district in certain   counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 13, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER D-1. COUNTY CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN   CERTAIN COUNTIES          Sec. 13.181.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only   to a county that contains an international border and borders the   Gulf of Mexico.          Sec. 13.182.  DETACHMENT OF CERTAIN DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a)   Except as provided by Subsection (b), effective July 1, 2018, the   territory of a school district that is partly located in a county   subject to this subchapter shall be detached from that district and   that territory is annexed and consolidated into a countywide   district as provided by Section 13.183.          (b)  This section does not apply to territory of a school   district that is partly located in a county subject to this   subchapter if that territory overlaps one or more school districts   wholly located in that county and provides only middle school,   junior high school, and high school magnet programs, academies, or   similar special programs in that territory.          Sec. 13.183.  CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CERTAIN   OTHER TERRITORY.  Effective July 1, 2018, each school district   wholly located in a county subject to this subchapter and any   detached territory to which Section 13.182 applies are consolidated   into a single countywide school district.          Sec. 13.184.  STATUS; TRANSITIONAL GOVERNANCE OF   CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT. (a) The consolidated district is an   independent school district.          (b)  The board of trustees of the consolidating school   district wholly located in the county that had the largest   enrollment during the 2017-2018 school year serves as the board of   trustees of the consolidated district until the next uniform   election date, at which time the consolidated school district shall   elect a board of trustees as provided by Section 13.185.          Sec. 13.185.  BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL   DISTRICT. (a) Notwithstanding Subchapter C, Chapter 11, the   consolidated school district is governed by a board of trustees   elected as follows:                (1)  two trustees elected from each county   commissioners precinct; and                (2)  one trustee elected from the county at large.          (b)  The trustees serve staggered terms of four years, with   the terms of four or five of the trustees expiring every two years,   as appropriate.          (c)  At the first election at which the trustees are elected   in the manner authorized by this section and after each   redistricting, all positions on the board shall be filled. The   trustees then elected shall draw lots to determine the four   trustees who serve an initial term of two years.          (d)  The trustee elected from the county at large serves as   the presiding officer of the board of trustees.          Sec. 13.186.  TITLE TO PROPERTY; ASSUMPTION OF DEBT. (a)   Title to all property of the consolidating districts wholly located   in the county vests in the consolidated district, and the   consolidated district assumes and is liable for the outstanding   indebtedness of those consolidating districts.          (b)  Title to all real property of a district from which   territory is detached under Section 13.182 vests in the   consolidated district, and the consolidated district assumes and is   liable for any portion of the indebtedness of the district from   which the territory is detached that is allocated to the   consolidated district as provided by Section 13.004.          Sec. 13.187.  REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1 of each   even-numbered year, the board of trustees of the consolidated   school district shall prepare and deliver to the governor,   lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and   presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with   primary jurisdiction over public education a report that:                (1)  evaluates the operation of the consolidated school   district to determine whether an increase in administrative   efficiency or any cost savings have resulted from the countywide   consolidation of school districts and any applicable detached   territory; and                (2)  makes recommendations for any additional   legislative action to enhance the efficiency of the operation of   the consolidated district.          (b)  This section expires September 1, 2021.          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.