88R687 CAE-D     By: Swanson H.B. No. 277       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to abolishing certain county boards of education, boards   of county school trustees, and offices of county school   superintendent.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  (a) Each county board of education, board of   county school trustees, and office of county school superintendent   in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more is abolished   effective September 1, 2025, unless the continuation of the county   board of education, board of county school trustees, and office of   county school superintendent is approved by a majority of voters at   an election held on the November 2024 uniform election date in the   county in which the county board of education, board of county   school trustees, and office of county school superintendent are   located. Subsections (b)-(o) of this section do not take effect in   a county if the continuation of the county board of education, board   of county school trustees, and office of county school   superintendent is approved at the election held in the county under   this subsection.          (b)  Not later than January 1, 2025, a dissolution committee   shall be formed for each county board of education or board of   county school trustees to be abolished as provided by Subsection   (a) of this section. The dissolution committee is responsible for   all financial decisions for each county board of education or board   of county school trustees abolished by this Act, including asset   distribution and payment of all debt obligations.          (c)  A dissolution committee required by this Act shall be   appointed by the comptroller and include:                (1)  one financial advisor;                (2)  the superintendent of the participating component   school district with the largest number of students in average   daily attendance or the superintendent's designee;                (3)  one certified public accountant;                (4)  one auditor who holds a license or other   professional credential;                (5)  one bond counsel who holds a license or other   professional credential; and                (6)  one person appointed by the commissioner of   education.          (d)  A dissolution committee created under this Act is   subject to the open meetings requirements under Chapter 551,   Government Code, and public information requirements under Chapter   552, Government Code.          (e)  Members of a dissolution committee may not receive   compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and   necessary expenses incurred in performing the functions of the   dissolution committee.          (f)  Subject to the other requirements of this Act, the   dissolution committee shall determine the manner in which all   assets, liabilities, contracts, and services of the county board of   education or board of county school trustees abolished by this Act   are divided, transferred, or discontinued. The dissolution   committee shall create a sinking fund to deposit all money received   in the abolishment of each county board of education or board of   county school trustees for the payment of all debts of the county   board of education or board of county school trustees.          (g)  The dissolution committee may employ one person to   assist in the abolishment of the county board of education or board   of county school trustees.          (h)  On September 1, 2025, the participating component   school district with the largest number of students in average   daily attendance has the right of first refusal to buy, at fair   market value, the administrative building of the county board of   education or board of county school trustees.          (i)  An ad valorem tax assessed by a county board of   education or board of county school trustees shall continue to be   assessed by the county on behalf of the board for the purpose of   paying the principal of and interest on any bonds issued by the   county board of education or board of county school trustees until   all bonds are paid in full. This subsection applies only to a bond   issued before the effective date of this Act for which the tax   receipts were obligated. On payment of all bonds issued by the   county board of education or board of county school trustees, the ad   valorem tax may no longer be assessed.          (j)  In the manner provided by rule of the commissioner of   education, the county shall collect and use any delinquent taxes   imposed by or on behalf of the county board of education or board of   county school trustees.          (k)  The dissolution committee shall distribute the assets   remaining after discharge of the liabilities of the county board of   education or board of county school trustees to the component   school districts in the county in proportionate shares equal to the   proportion that the amount of money a district has submitted to the   county board of education or board of county school trustees has to   the total amount of money submitted by all districts. The   dissolution committee shall liquidate board assets as necessary to   discharge board liabilities and facilitate the distribution of   assets. A person authorized by the dissolution committee shall   execute any documents necessary to complete the transfer of assets,   liabilities, or contracts.          (l)  The dissolution committee shall encourage the component   school districts to:                (1)  continue sharing services received through the   county board of education or board of county school trustees; and                (2)  give preference to private sector contractors to   continue services provided by the county board of education or   board of county school trustees.          (m)  The chief financial officer and financial advisor for   the county board of education or board of county school trustees   shall provide assistance to the dissolution committee in abolishing   the county board of education or board of county school trustees.          (n)  The Texas Education Agency shall provide assistance to a   dissolution committee in the distribution of assets, liabilities,   contracts, and services of a county board of education or board of   county school trustees abolished by this Act.          (o)  Any dissolution committee created as provided by this   Act is abolished on the date all debt obligations of the county   board of education or board of county school trustees are paid in   full and all assets have been distributed to component school   districts.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.