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2005 Texas Education Code CHAPTER 44. FISCAL MANAGEMENT
TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION SUBTITLE I. SCHOOL FINANCE AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT CHAPTER 44. FISCAL MANAGEMENT SUBCHAPTER A. SCHOOL DISTRICT FISCAL MANAGEMENT § 44.001. FISCAL GUIDELINES. (a) The commissioner shall establish advisory guidelines relating to the fiscal management of a school district. (b) The commissioner shall report annually to the State Board of Education the status of school district fiscal management as reflected by the advisory guidelines and by statutory requirements. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.0011. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of a school district begins on July 1 or September 1 of each year, as determined by the board of trustees of the district. The commissioner may adopt rules concerning the submission of information by a district under Chapter 39 or 42 based on the fiscal year of the district. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 643, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. § 44.002. PREPARATION OF BUDGET. (a) On or before a date set by the State Board of Education, the superintendent shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a proposed budget covering all estimated revenue and proposed expenditures of the district for the following fiscal year. (b) The budget must be prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, rules adopted by the State Board of Education, and adopted policies of the board of trustees. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.003. RECORDS AND REPORTS. The superintendent shall ensure that records are kept and that copies of all budgets, all forms, and all other reports are filed on behalf of the school district at the proper times and in the proper offices as required by this code. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.004. NOTICE OF BUDGET AND TAX RATE MEETING; BUDGET ADOPTION. (a) When the budget has been prepared under section 44.002, the president shall call a meeting of the board of trustees for the purpose of adopting a budget for the succeeding fiscal year (b) The president shall provide for the publication of notice of the budget and proposed tax rate meeting in a daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper published in the district. If no daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper is published in the district, the president shall provide for the publication of notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the district's central administrative office is located. Notice under this subsection shall be published not earlier than the 30th day or later than the 10th day before the date of the hearing. (c) The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject to Subsection (d), the notice must: (1) contain a statement in the following form:"NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE "The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at (time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location, city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice. "; (2) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference, expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for each of the following: (A) maintenance and operations; (B) debt service; and (C) total expenditures; (3) contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code; (4) contain a statement of the total amount of the outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district; (5) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must: (A) show in rows the tax rates described by Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations," "Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of "Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund": (i) the school district's "Last Year's Rate"; (ii) the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which: (a) in the case of "Maintenance & Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the district in the preceding school year; and (b) in the case of "Interest & Sinking Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide the amount required to service the district's debt; and (iii) the "Proposed Rate"; (B) contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row required by Paragraph (A): (i) the "Local Revenue per Student," which is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product by the number of students in average daily attendance in the district for the applicable school year; and (ii) the "State Revenue per Student," which is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in the district for the applicable school year; and (C) contain an asterisk after each calculation for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were approved by the voters of this district."; (6) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must: (A) show in rows the information described by Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns entitled "Last Year" and "This Year": (i) "Average Market Value of Residences," determined using the same group of residences for each year; (ii) "Average Taxable Value of Residences," determined after taking into account the limitation on the appraised value of residences under Section 23.23, Tax Code, and after subtracting all homestead exemptions applicable in each year, other than exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older or their surviving spouses, and using the same group of residences for each year; (iii) "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed Rate per $100 Value"; and (iv) "Taxes Due on Average Residence," determined using the same group of residences for each year; and (B) contain the following information: "Increase (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which is computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for the current tax year; (7) contain the following statement in bold print: "Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of changes in tax rate or property value."; (8) contain the following statement in bold print: "Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the school district rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code). This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school district rollback rate)."; and (9) contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in the succeeding school year. (c-1) to (c-5) Expired. (d) The comptroller shall prescribe the language and format to be used in the part of the notice required by Subsection (c). A notice under Subsection (c) is not valid if it does not substantially conform to the language and format prescribed by the comptroller under this subsection. (e) A person who owns taxable property in a school district is entitled to an injunction restraining the collection of taxes by the district if the district has not complied with the requirements of Subsections (b), (c), and (d), and, if applicable, Subsection (i), and the failure to comply was not in good faith. An action to enjoin the collection of taxes must be filed before the date the school district delivers substantially all of its tax bills. (f) The board of trustees, at the meeting called for that purpose, shall adopt a budget to cover all expenditures for the school district for the next succeeding fiscal year. Any taxpayer of the district may be present and participate in the meeting. (g) The budget must be adopted before the adoption of the tax rate for the tax year in which the fiscal year covered by the budget begins. (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a school district with a fiscal year beginning July 1 may use the certified estimate of the taxable value of district property required by Section 26.01(d), Tax Code, in preparing the notice required by this section if the district does not receive on or before June 7 the certified appraisal roll for the district required by Section 26.01(a), Tax Code. (i) A school district that uses a certified estimate, as authorized by Subsection (h), may adopt a budget at the public meeting designated in the notice prepared using the estimate, but the district may not adopt a tax rate before the district receives the certified appraisal roll for the district required by Section 26.01(a), Tax Code. After receipt of the certified appraisal roll, the district must publish a revised notice and hold another public meeting before the district may adopt a tax rate that exceeds: (1) the rate proposed in the notice prepared using the estimate; or (2) the district's rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code, using the certified appraisal roll. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 398, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 898, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 807, § 2, eff. June 17, 2005. § 44.005. FILING OF ADOPTED BUDGET. On or before a date set by the State Board of Education, the budget must be filed with the agency according to the rules established by the State Board of Education. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.006. EFFECT OF ADOPTED BUDGET; AMENDMENTS. (a) Public funds of the school district may not be spent in any manner other than as provided for in the budget adopted by the board of trustees, but the board may amend a budget or adopt a supplementary emergency budget to cover necessary unforeseen expenses. (b) Any amendment or supplementary budget must be prepared and filed according to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.007. ACCOUNTING SYSTEM; REPORT. (a) A standard school fiscal accounting system must be adopted and installed by the board of trustees of each school district. The accounting system must conform with generally accepted accounting principles. (b) The accounting system must meet at least the minimum requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education, subject to review and comment by the state auditor. (c) A record must be kept of all revenues realized and of all expenditures made during the fiscal year for which a budget is adopted. A report of the revenues and expenditures for the preceding fiscal year shall be filed with the agency on or before the date set by the State Board of Education. (d) The State Board of Education shall require each district, as part of the report required by this section, to include management, cost accounting, and financial information in a format prescribed by the board and in a manner sufficient to enable the board to monitor the funding process and determine educational system costs by district, campus, and program. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.0071. COMPUTATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENDITURES RATIO AND INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES RATIO. (a) Each fiscal year, a school district shall compute and report to the commissioner: (1) the percentage of the district's total expenditures for the preceding fiscal year that were used to fund direct instructional activities; and (2) the percentage of the district's full-time equivalent employees during the preceding fiscal year whose job function was to directly provide classroom instruction to students, determined by dividing the number of hours spent by employees in providing direct classroom instruction by the total number of hours worked by all district employees. (b) At least annually a school district shall provide educators employed by the district with a list of district employees determined by the district for purposes of this section to be engaged in directly providing classroom instruction to students. The list must include the percentage of time spent by each employee in directly providing classroom instruction to students. (c) For purposes of this section, the computation of a district's expenditures used to fund direct instructional activities shall include the salary, including any associated employment taxes, and value of any benefits provided to any district employee who directly provided classroom instruction to students, but only in proportion to the percentage of time spent by the employee in directly providing classroom instruction to students. (d) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. To the extent possible, the rules must provide for development of the information required by this section using information otherwise compiled by school districts for reporting through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1269, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.008. ANNUAL AUDIT; REPORT. (a) The board of school trustees of each school district shall have its school district fiscal accounts audited annually at district expense by a certified or public accountant holding a permit from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. The audit must be completed following the close of each fiscal year. (b) The independent audit must meet at least the minimum requirements and be in the format prescribed by the State Board of Education, subject to review and comment by the state auditor. The audit shall include an audit of the accuracy of the fiscal information provided by the district through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). (c) Each treasurer receiving or having control of any school fund of any school district shall keep a full and separate itemized account with each of the different classes of its school funds coming into the treasurer's hands. The treasurer's records of the district's itemized accounts and records shall be made available to audit. (d) A copy of the annual audit report, approved by the board of trustees, shall be filed by the district with the agency not later than the 150th day after the end of the fiscal year for which the audit was made. If the board of trustees declines or refuses to approve its auditor's report, it shall nevertheless file with the agency a copy of the audit report with its statement detailing reasons for failure to approve the report. (e) The audit reports shall be reviewed by the agency, and the commissioner shall notify the board of trustees of objections, violations of sound accounting practices or law and regulation requirements, or of recommendations concerning the audit reports that the commissioner wants to make. If the audit report reflects that penal laws have been violated, the commissioner shall notify the appropriate county or district attorney and the attorney general. The commissioner shall have access to all vouchers, receipts, district fiscal and financial records, and other school records as the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate for the review, analysis, and passing on audit reports. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 914, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. § 44.009. FINANCIAL REPORTS TO COMMISSIONER OR AGENCY; FORMS. (a) All financial reports made by or for school districts or by their officers, agents, or employees, to the commissioner or to the agency, shall be made on forms prescribed by the agency, subject to review and comment by the state auditor. (b) The agency shall combine as many forms as possible to avoid multiplicity of reports. The forms shall provide for entry of all information required by law or by the commissioner and information considered necessary by the state auditor. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.010. REVIEW BY AGENCY. The budgets, fiscal reports, and audit reports filed with the agency shall be reviewed and analyzed by the staff of the agency to determine whether all legal requirements have been met and to collect fiscal data needed in preparing school fiscal reports for the governor and the legislature. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.SUBCHAPTER B. PURCHASES; CONTRACTS § 44.031. PURCHASING CONTRACTS. (a) Except as provided by this subchapter, all school district contracts, except contracts for the purchase of produce or vehicle fuel, valued at $25,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period shall be made by the method, of the following methods, that provides the best value for the district: (1) competitive bidding; (2) competitive sealed proposals; (3) a request for proposals, for services other than construction services; (4) a catalogue purchase as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 2157, Government Code; (5) an interlocal contract; (6) a design/build contract; (7) a contract to construct, rehabilitate, alter, or repair facilities that involves using a construction manager; (8) a job order contract for the minor construction, repair, rehabilitation, or alteration of a facility; (9) the reverse auction procedure as defined by Section 2155.062(d), Government Code; or (10) the formation of a political subdivision corporation under Section 304.001, Local Government Code. (b) Except as provided by this subchapter, in determining to whom to award a contract, the district may consider: (1) the purchase price; (2) the reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's goods or services; (3) the quality of the vendor's goods or services; (4) the extent to which the goods or services meet the district's needs; (5) the vendor's past relationship with the district; (6) the impact on the ability of the district to comply with laws and rules relating to historically underutilized businesses; (7) the total long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor's goods or services; and (8) any other relevant factor specifically listed in the request for bids or proposals. (b-1) In awarding a contract by competitive sealed bid under this section, a school district that has its central administrative office located in a municipality with a population of less than 250,000 may consider a bidder's principal place of business in the manner provided by Section 271.9051, Local Government Code. This subsection does not apply to the purchase of telecommunications services or information services, as those terms are defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 153. (c) The state auditor may audit purchases of goods or services by the district. (d) The board of trustees of the district may adopt rules and procedures for the acquisition of goods or services. (e) To the extent of any conflict, this subchapter prevails over any other law relating to the purchasing of goods and services except a law relating to contracting with historically underutilized businesses. (f) This section does not apply to a contract for professional services rendered, including services of an architect, attorney, or fiscal agent. A school district may, at its option, contract for professional services rendered by a financial consultant or a technology consultant in the manner provided by Section 2254.003, Government Code, in lieu of the methods provided by this section. (g) Notice of the time by when and place where the bids or proposals, or the responses to a request for qualifications, will be received and opened shall be published in the county in which the district's central administrative office is located, once a week for at least two weeks before the deadline for receiving bids, proposals, or responses to a request for qualifications. If there is not a newspaper in that county, the advertising shall be published in a newspaper in the county nearest the county seat of the county in which the district's central administrative office is located. In a two-step procurement process, the time and place where the second-step bids, proposals, or responses will be received are not required to be published separately.Text of subsec. (h) as amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 922, § 1 (h) If school equipment, a school facility, or a portion of a school facility is destroyed, severely damaged, or experiences a major unforeseen operational or structural failure, and the board of trustees determines that the delay posed by the contract methods required by this section would prevent or substantially impair the conduct of classes or other essential school activities, then contracts for the replacement or repair of the equipment, school facility, or portion of the school facility may be made by a method other than the methods required by this section.Text of subsec. (h) as amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 1 (h) If school equipment or a part of a school facility or personal property is destroyed or severely damaged or, as a result of an unforeseen catastrophe or emergency, undergoes major operational or structural failure, and the board of trustees determines that the delay posed by the methods provided for in this section would prevent or substantially impair the conduct of classes or other essential school activities, then contracts for the replacement or repair of the equipment or the part of the school facility may be made by methods other than those required by this section. (i) A school district may acquire computers and computer-related equipment, including computer software, through the General Services Commission under contracts entered into in accordance with Chapter 2157, Government Code. Before issuing an invitation for bids, the commission shall consult with the agency concerning the computer and computer-related equipment needs of school districts. To the extent possible the resulting contract shall provide for such needs. (j) Without complying with Subsection (a), a school district may purchase an item that is available from only one source, including: (1) an item for which competition is precluded because of the existence of a patent, copyright, secret process, or monopoly; (2) a film, manuscript, or book; (3) a utility service, including electricity, gas, or water; and (4) a captive replacement part or component for equipment. (k) The exceptions provided by Subsection (j) do not apply to mainframe data-processing equipment and peripheral attachments with a single-item purchase price in excess of $15,000. (l) Each contract proposed to be made by a school district for the purchase or lease of one or more school buses, including a lease with an option to purchase, must be submitted to competitive bidding when the contract is valued at $20,000 or more. (m) If a purchase is made at the campus level in a school district with an average daily attendance of 190,000 or more as determined under Section 42.005 that has formally adopted a site-based decision-making plan under Subchapter F, Chapter 11, that delegates purchasing decisions to the campus level, this section applies only to the campus and does not require the district to aggregate and jointly award purchasing contracts. A district that adopts site-based purchasing under this subsection shall adopt a policy to ensure that campus purchases achieve the best value to the district and are not intended or used to avoid the requirement that a district aggregate purchases under Subsection (a). Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 881, § 1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 922, § 1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 436, § 7, eff. May 28, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1409, § 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 201, § 38, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 680, § 1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1205, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2005. § 44.0311. APPLICABILITY TO JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS. (a) This subchapter applies to junior college districts. (b) For purposes of this subchapter, "board of trustees" includes the governing board of a junior college district. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. § 44.0312. DELEGATION. (a) The board of trustees of the district may, as appropriate, delegate its authority under this subchapter regarding an action authorized or required by this subchapter to be taken by a school district to a designated person, representative, or committee. In procuring construction services, the district shall provide notice of the delegation and the limits of the delegation in the request for bids, proposals, or qualifications or in an addendum to the request. If the district fails to provide that notice, a ranking, selection, or evaluation of bids, proposals, or qualifications for construction services other than by the board of trustees in an open public meeting is advisory only. (b) The board may not delegate the authority to act regarding an action authorized or required by this subchapter to be taken by the board of trustees of a school district. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. § 44.0315. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Architect" means an individual registered as an architect under Chapter 1051, Occupations Code. (2) "Contractor" in the context of a contract for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility means a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that assumes the risk for constructing, rehabilitating, altering, or repairing all or part of the facility at the contracted price. (3) "Engineer" means an individual licensed as an engineer under Chapter 1001, Occupations Code. (4) "Facility" means real property, including buildings and associated structures and improved or unimproved land. The term does not include: (A) highways, roads, streets, bridges, utilities, water supply projects, water plants, wastewater plants, water and wastewater distribution or conveyance facilities, wharves, docks, airport runways and taxiways, drainage projects, or related types of projects associated with civil engineering construction; or (B) buildings or structures that are incidental to projects that are primarily civil engineering construction projects. (5) "Fee" in the context of a contract for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility means the payment a construction manager receives for its overhead and profit in performing its services. (6) "General conditions" in the context of a contract for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility means on-site management, administrative personnel, insurance, bonds, equipment, utilities, and incidental work, including minor field labor and materials. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1409, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.756, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.032. ENFORCEMENT OF PURCHASE PROCEDURES: CRIMINAL PENALTIES; REMOVAL; INELIGIBILITY. (a) In this section: (1) "Component purchases" means purchases of the component parts of an item that in normal purchasing practices would be purchased in one purchase. (2) "Separate purchases" means purchases, made separately, of items that in normal purchasing practices would be purchased in one purchase. (3) "Sequential purchases" means purchases, made over a period, of items that in normal purchasing practices would be purchased in one purchase. (b) An officer, employee, or agent of a school district commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence makes or authorizes separate, sequential, or component purchases to avoid the requirements of Section 44.031(a) or (b). An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor and is an offense involving moral turpitude. (c) An officer, employee, or agent of a school district commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence violates Section 44.031(a) or (b) other than by conduct described by Subsection (b). An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor and is an offense involving moral turpitude. (d) An officer or employee of a school district commits an offense if the officer or employee knowingly violates Section 44.031, other than by conduct described by Subsection (b) or (c). An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. (e) The final conviction of a person other than a trustee of a school district for an offense under Subsection (b) or (c) results in the immediate removal from office or employment of that person. A trustee who is convicted of an offense under this section is considered to have committed official misconduct for purposes of Chapter 87, Local Government Code, and is subject to removal as provided by that chapter and Section 24, Article V, Texas Constitution. For four years after the date of the final conviction, the removed person is ineligible to be a candidate for or to be appointed or elected to a public office in this state, is ineligible to be employed by or act as an agent for the state or a political subdivision of the state, and is ineligible to receive any compensation through a contract with the state or a political subdivision of the state. This subsection does not prohibit the payment of retirement benefits to the removed person or the payment of workers' compensation benefits to the removed person for an injury that occurred before the commission of the offense for which the person was removed. This subsection does not make a person ineligible for an office for which the federal or state constitution prescribes exclusive eligibility requirements. (f) A court may enjoin performance of a contract made in violation of this subchapter. A county attorney, a district attorney, a criminal district attorney, a citizen of the county in which the school district is located, or any interested party may bring an action for an injunction. A party who prevails in an action brought under this subsection is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees as approved by the court. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. § 44.033. PURCHASES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY VALUED BETWEEN $10,000 AND $25,000. (a) A school district shall purchase personal property as provided by this section if the value of the items is at least $10,000 but less than $25,000, in the aggregate, for a 12-month period. In the alternative, the school district may purchase those items in accordance with Sections 44.031 (a) and (b). (b) For each 12-month period, the district shall publish a notice in two successive issues of any newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the school is located. If there is no newspaper in the county in which the school is located, the advertising shall be published in a newspaper in the county nearest the county seat of the county in which the school is located, specifying the categories of personal property to be purchased under this section and soliciting the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of vendors that are interested in supplying any of the categories to the district. For each category, the district shall create a vendor list consisting of each vendor that responds to the published notice and any additional vendors the district elects to include. (c) Before the district makes a purchase from a category of personal property, the district must obtain written or telephone price quotations from at least three vendors from the list for that category. If fewer than three vendors are on the list, the district shall contact each vendor on the list. Whenever possible, telephone quotes should be confirmed in writing by mail or facsimile. The bidding records must be retained with the school's competitive bidding records and are subject to audit. Except as provided by Subsection (f), the purchase shall be made from the lowest responsible bidder. (d) Purchases of produce and fuel shall be made in accordance with this section. (e) If a purchase is made at the campus level in a school district with an average daily attendance of 190,000 or more as determined under Section 42.005 that has formally adopted a site-based decision-making plan under Subchapter F, Chapter 11, that delegates purchasing decisions to the campus level, this section applies only to the campus and does not require the district to aggregate and jointly award purchasing contracts. A district that adopts site-based purchasing under this subsection shall adopt a policy to ensure that campus purchases achieve the best value to the district and are not intended or used to avoid the requirement that a district aggregate purchases under Subsection (a). (f) In awarding a contract by competitive sealed bid under this section, a school district that has its central administrative office located in a municipality with a population of less than 250,000 may consider a bidder's principal place of business in the manner provided by Section 271.9051, Local Government Code. This subsection does not apply to the purchase of telecommunications services or information services, as those terms are defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 153. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 881, § 2, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1205, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2005. § 44.034. NOTIFICATION OF CRIMINAL HISTORY OF CONTRACTOR. (a) A person or business entity that enters into a contract with a school district must give advance notice to the district if the person or an owner or operator of the business entity has been convicted of a felony. The notice must include a general description of the conduct resulting in the conviction of a felony. (b) A school district may terminate a contract with a person or business entity if the district determines that the person or business entity failed to give notice as required by Subsection (a) or misrepresented the conduct resulting in the conviction. The district must compensate the person or business entity for services performed before the termination of the contract. (c) This section does not apply to a publicly held corporation. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.035. EVALUATION OF BIDS AND PROPOSALS FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. (a) The board of trustees of a school district that is considering a construction contract using a method specified by Section 44.031(a) must, before advertising, determine which method provides the best value for the district. (b) The district shall base its selection among offerors on criteria authorized to be used under Section 44.031(b). The district shall publish in the request for bids, proposals, or qualifications the criteria that will be used to evaluate the offerors and the relative weights given to the criteria. (c) The district shall document the basis of its selection and shall make the evaluations public not later than the seventh day after the date the contract is awarded. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1409, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. § 44.036. DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTS FOR FACILITIES. (a) In this section: (1) "Design-build contract" means a single contract with a design-build firm for the design and construction of a facility. (2) "Design-build firm" means a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity or team that includes an engineer or architect and builder qualified to engage in building construction in Texas. (3) "Design criteria package" means a set of documents that provides sufficient information to permit a design-build firm to prepare a response to a school district's request for qualifications and any additional information requested, including criteria for selection. The design criteria package must specify criteria the district considers necessary to describe the project and may include, as appropriate, the legal description of the site, survey information concerning the site, interior space requirements, special material requirements, material quality standards, conceptual criteria for the project, special equipment requirements, cost or budget estimates, time schedules, quality assurance and quality control requirements, site development requirements, applicable codes and ordinances, provisions for utilities, parking requirements, or any other requirement, as applicable. (b) A school district may use the design-build method for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility. In using that method and in entering into a contract for the services of a design-build firm, the contracting school district and the design-build firm shall follow the procedures provided by Subsections (c)-(j). (c) The district shall designate an engineer or architect independent of the design-build firm to act as its representative for the duration of the work on the facility. If the district's engineer or architect is not a full-time employee of the district, any engineer or architect designated shall be selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications in accordance with Section 2254.004, Government Code. (d) The district shall prepare a request for qualifications that includes general information on the project site, project scope, budget, special systems, selection criteria, and other information that may assist potential design-build firms in submitting proposals for the project. The district shall also prepare the design criteria package that includes more detailed information on the project. If the preparation of the design criteria package requires engineering or architectural services that constitute the practice of engineering within the meaning of Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, or the practice of architecture within the meaning of Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, those services shall be provided in accordance with the applicable law. (e) The district shall evaluate statements of qualifications and select a design-build firm in two phases: (1) In phase one, the district shall prepare a request for qualifications and evaluate each offeror's experience, technical competence, and capability to perform, the past performance of the offeror's team and members of the team, and other appropriate factors submitted by the team or firm in response to the request for qualifications, except that cost-related or price-related evaluation factors are not permitted. Each offeror must certify to the district that each engineer or architect that is a member of its team was selected based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, in the manner provided by Section 2254.004, Government Code. The district shall qualify a maximum of five offerors to submit additional information and, if the district chooses, to interview for final selection. (2) In phase two, the district shall evaluate the information submitted by the offerors on the basis of the selection criteria stated in the request for qualifications and the results of any interview. The district may request additional information regarding demonstrated competence and qualifications, considerations of the safety and long-term durability of the project, the feasibility of implementing the project as proposed, the ability of the offeror to meet schedules, costing methodology, or other factors as appropriate. The district may not require offerors to submit detailed engineering or architectural designs as part of the proposal. The district shall rank each proposal submitted on the basis of the criteria set forth in the request for qualifications. The district shall select the design-build firm that submits the proposal offering the best value for the district on the basis of the published selection criteria and on its ranking evaluations. The district shall first attempt to negotiate with the selected offeror a contract. If the district is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the selected offeror, the district shall, formally and in writing, end negotiations with that offeror and proceed to negotiate with the next offeror in the order of the selection ranking until a contract is reached or negotiations with all ranked offerors end. (f) Following selection of a design-build firm under Subsection (e), that firm's engineers or architects shall complete the design, submitting all design elements for review and determination of scope compliance to the district or district's engineer or architect before or concurrently with construction. (g) An engineer shall have responsibility for compliance with the engineering design requirements and all other applicable requirements of Chapter 1001, Occupations Code. An architect shall have responsibility for compliance with the requirements of Chapter 1051, Occupations Code. (h) The district shall provide or contract for, independently of the design-build firm, the inspection services, the testing of construction materials engineering, and the verification testing services necessary for acceptance of the facility by the district. The district shall select those services for which it contracts in accordance with Section 2254.004, Government Code. (i) The design-build firm shall supply a signed and sealed set of construction documents for the project to the district at the conclusion of construction. (j) A payment or performance bond is not required for, and may not provide coverage for, the portion of a design-build contract under this section that includes design services only. If a fixed contract amount or guaranteed maximum price has not been determined at the time a design-build contract is awarded, the penal sums of the performance and payment bonds delivered to the district must each be in an amount equal to the project budget, as specified in the design criteria package. The design-build firm shall deliver the bonds not later than the 10th day after the date the design-build firm executes the contract unless the design-build firm furnishes a bid bond or other financial security acceptable to the district to ensure that the design-build firm will furnish the required performance and payment bonds when a guaranteed maximum price is established. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 5, 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1409, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.757, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.037. CONTRACTS FOR FACILITIES: CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AGENT. (a) A school district may use the construction manager-agent method for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility. In using that method and in entering into a contract for the services of a construction manager-agent, a district shall follow the procedures prescribed by this section. (b) A construction manager-agent is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that provides consultation to the school district regarding construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of the facility. A district using the construction manager-agent method may, under the contract between the district and the construction manager-agent, require the construction manager-agent to provide administrative personnel, equipment necessary to perform duties under this section, and on-site management and other services specified in the contract. A construction manager-agent represents the district in a fiduciary capacity. (c) Before or concurrently with selecting a construction manager-agent, the district shall select or designate an engineer or architect who shall prepare the construction documents for the project and who has full responsibility for complying with Chapter 1001 or 1051, Occupations Code, as applicable. If the engineer or architect is not a full-time employee of the district, the district shall select the engineer or architect on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications as provided by Section 2254.004, Government Code. The district's engineer or architect may not serve, alone or in combination with another person, as the construction manager-agent unless the engineer or architect is hired to serve as the construction manager-agent under a separate or concurrent procurement conducted in accordance with this subchapter. This subsection does not prohibit the district's engineer or architect from providing customary construction phase services under the engineer's or architect's original professional service agreement in accordance with applicable licensing laws. (d) A district shall select a construction manager-agent on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications in the same manner as provided for the selection of engineers or architects under Section 2254.004, Government Code. (e) A district using the construction manager-agent method shall procure, in accordance with applicable law and in any manner authorized by this chapter, a general contractor, trade contractors, or subcontractors who will serve as the prime contractor for their specific portion of the work. (f) The district or the construction manager-agent shall procure in accordance with Section 2254.004, Government Code, all of the testing of construction materials engineering, the inspection services, and the verification testing services necessary for acceptance of the facility by the district. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.758, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.038. CONTRACTS FOR FACILITIES: CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AT-RISK. (a) A school district may use the construction manager-at-risk method for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility. In using that method and in entering into a contract for the services of a construction manager-at-risk, a district shall follow the procedures prescribed by this section. (b) A construction manager-at-risk is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that assumes the risk for construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility at the contracted price as a general contractor and provides consultation to the school district regarding construction during and after the design of the facility. (c) Before or concurrently with selecting a construction manager-at-risk, the district shall select or designate an engineer or architect who shall prepare the construction documents for the project and who has full responsibility for complying with Chapter 1001 or 1051, Occupations Code, as applicable. If the engineer or architect is not a full-time employee of the district, the district shall select the engineer or architect on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications as provided by Section 2254.004, Government Code. The district's engineer, architect, or construction manager-agent for a project may not serve, alone or in combination with another, as the construction manager-at-risk unless the engineer or architect is hired to serve as the construction manager-at-risk under a separate or concurrent procurement conducted in accordance with this subchapter. This subsection does not prohibit the district's engineer or architect from providing customary construction phase services under the engineer's or architect's original professional service agreement in accordance with applicable licensing laws. (d) The district shall provide or contract for, independently of the construction manager-at-risk, the inspection services, the testing of construction materials engineering, and the verification testing services necessary for acceptance of the facility by the district. The district shall select those services for which it contracts in accordance with Section 2254.004, Government Code. (e) The district shall select the construction manager-at-risk in either a one-step or two-step process. The district shall prepare a request for proposals, in the case of a one-step process, or a request for qualifications, in the case of a two-step process, that includes general information on the project site, project scope, schedule, selection criteria, estimated budget, and the time and place for receipt of proposals or qualifications, as applicable, a statement as to whether the selection process is a one-step or two-step process, and other information that may assist the district in its selection of a construction manager-at-risk. The district shall state the selection criteria in the request for proposals or qualifications, as applicable. The selection criteria may include the offeror's experience, past performance, safety record, proposed personnel and methodology, and other appropriate factors that demonstrate the capability of the construction manager-at-risk. If a one-step process is used, the district may request, as part of the offeror's proposal, proposed fees and prices for fulfilling the general conditions. If a two-step process is used, the district may not request fees or prices in step one. In step two, the district may request that five or fewer offerors, selected solely on the basis of qualifications, provide additional information, including the construction manager-at-risk's proposed fee and its price for fulfilling the general conditions. (f) At each step, the district shall receive, publicly open, and read aloud the names of the offerors. At the appropriate step, the district shall also read aloud the fees and prices, if any, stated in each proposal as the proposal is opened. Within 45 days after the date of opening the proposals, the district shall evaluate and rank each proposal submitted in relation to the criteria set forth in the request for proposals. (g) The district shall select the offeror that submits the proposal that offers the best value for the district based on the published selection criteria and on its ranking evaluation. The district shall first attempt to negotiate with the selected offeror a contract. If the district is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the selected offeror, the district shall, formally and in writing, end negotiations with that offeror and proceed to negotiate with the next offeror in the order of the selection ranking until a contract is reached or negotiations with all ranked offerors end. (h) A construction manager-at-risk shall publicly advertise, in accordance with Section 44.031(g), and receive bids or proposals from trade contractors or subcontractors for the performance of all major elements of the work other than the minor work that may be included in the general conditions. A construction manager-at-risk may seek to perform portions of the work itself if the construction manager-at-risk submits its bid or proposal for those portions of the work in the same manner as all other trade contractors or subcontractors and if the district determines that the construction manager-at-risk's bid or proposal provides the best value for the district. (i) The construction manager-at-risk and the district or its representative shall review all trade contractor or subcontractor bids or proposals in a manner that does not disclose the contents of the bid or proposal during the selection process to a person not employed by the construction manager-at-risk, engineer, architect, or district. All bids or proposals shall be made public after the award of the contract or within seven days after the date of final selection of bids or proposals, whichever is later. (j) If the construction manager-at-risk reviews, evaluates, and recommends to the district a bid or proposal from a trade contractor or subcontractor but the district requires another bid or proposal to be accepted, the district shall compensate the construction manager-at-risk by a change in price, time, or guaranteed maximum cost for any additional cost and risk that the construction manager-at-risk may incur because of the district's requirement that another bid or proposal be accepted. (k) If a selected trade contractor or subcontractor defaults in the performance of its work or fails to execute a subcontract after being selected in accordance with this section, the construction manager-at-risk may, without advertising, itself fulfill the contract requirements or select a replacement trade contractor or subcontractor to fulfill the contract requirements. (l) If a fixed contract amount or guaranteed maximum price has not been determined at the time the contract is awarded, the penal sums of the performance and payment bonds delivered to the district must each be in an amount equal to the project budget, as specified in the request for qualifications. The construction manager shall deliver the bonds not later than the 10th day after the date the construction manager executes the contract unless the construction manager furnishes a bid bond or other financial security acceptable to the district to ensure that the construction manager will furnish the required performance and payment bonds when a guaranteed maximum price is established. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1229, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.759, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.039. SELECTING CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES THROUGH COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS. (a) In selecting a contractor for construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair services for a facility through competitive sealed proposals, a school district shall follow the procedures prescribed by this section. (b) The district shall select or designate an engineer or architect to prepare construction documents for the project. The selected or designated engineer or architect has full responsibility for complying with Chapter 1001 or 1051, Occupations Code, as applicable. If the engineer or architect is not a full-time employee of the district, the district shall select the engineer or architect on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications as provided by Section 2254.004, Government Code. (c) The district shall provide or contract for, independently of the contractor, the inspection services, the testing of construction materials engineering, and the verification testing services necessary for acceptance of the facility by the district. The district shall select those services for which it contracts in accordance with Section 2254.004, Government Code, and shall identify them in the request for proposals. (d) The district shall prepare a request for competitive sealed proposals that includes construction documents, selection criteria, estimated budget, project scope, schedule, and other information that contractors may require to respond to the request. The district shall state in the request for proposals the selection criteria that will be used in selecting the successful offeror. (e) The district shall receive, publicly open, and read aloud the names of the offerors and, if any are required to be stated, all prices stated in each proposal. Within 45 days after the date of opening the proposals, the district shall evaluate and rank each proposal submitted in relation to the published selection criteria. (f) The district shall select the offeror that offers the best value for the district based on the published selection criteria and on its ranking evaluation. The district shall first attempt to negotiate with the selected offeror a contract. The district and its engineer or architect may discuss with the selected offeror options for a scope or time modification and any price change associated with the modification. If the district is unable to negotiate a contract with the selected offeror, the district shall, formally and in writing, end negotiations with that offeror and proceed to the next offeror in the order of the selection ranking until a contract is reached or all proposals are rejected. (g) In determining best value for the district, the district is not restricted to considering price alone, but may consider any other factor stated in the selection criteria. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.760, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.040. SELECTING CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES THROUGH COMPETITIVE BIDDING. (a) Except to the extent prohibited by other law and to the extent consistent with this subchapter, a school district may use competitive bidding to select a contractor to perform construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair services for a facility. (b) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this subsection, Subchapter B, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, does not apply to a competitive bidding process under this subchapter. Sections 271.026, 271.027(a), and 271.0275, Local Government Code, apply to a competitive bidding process under this subchapter. (c) The district shall select or designate an engineer or architect to prepare construction documents for the project. The selected or designated engineer or architect has full responsibility for complying with Chapter 1001 and Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, as applicable. (d) A school district shall award a competitively bid contract at the bid amount to the bidder offering the best value to the district according to the selection criteria that were established by the district. The selection criteria may include the factors listed in Section 44.031(b). Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1229, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.041. JOB ORDER CONTRACTS FOR FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR. (a) A school district may award job order contracts for the minor construction, repair, rehabilitation, or alteration of a facility if the work is of a recurring nature but the delivery times are indefinite and indefinite quantities and orders are awarded substantially on the basis of predescribed and prepriced tasks. (b) The school district may establish contractual unit prices for a job order contract by: (1) specifying one or more published construction unit price books and the applicable divisions or line items; or (2) providing a list of work items and requiring the offerors to bid or propose one or more coefficients or multipliers to be applied to the price book or work items as the price proposal. (c) The school district shall advertise for, receive, and publicly open sealed proposals for job order contracts. (d) The district may require offerors to submit additional information besides rates, including experience, past performance, and proposed personnel and methodology. (e) The district may award job order contracts to one or more job order contractors in connection with each solicitation of bids or proposals. (f) An order for a job or project under the job order contract must be signed by the district's representative and the contractor. The order may be a fixed price, lump-sum contract based substantially on contractual unit pricing applied to estimated quantities or may be a unit price order based on the quantities and line items delivered. (g) The contractor shall provide payment and performance bonds, if required by law, based on the amount or estimated amount of any order. (h) The base term of a job order contract is for the period and with any renewal option that the district sets forth in the request for proposals. If the district fails to advertise that term, the base term may not exceed two years and is not renewable without further advertisement and solicitation of proposals. (i) If a job order contract or an order issued under the contract requires engineering or architectural services that constitute the practice of engineering within the meaning of Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, or the practice of architecture within the meaning of Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, those services shall be provided in accordance with applicable law. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1179, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1225, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14A.761, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 44.042. PREFERENCE TO TEXAS AND UNITED STATES PRODUCTS. (a) A school district that purchases agricultural products shall give preference to those produced, processed, or grown in this state if the cost to the school district is equal and the quality is equal. (b) If agricultural products produced, processed, or grown in this state are not equal in cost and quality to other products, the school district shall give preference to agricultural products produced, processed, or grown in other states of the United States over foreign products if the cost to the school district is equal and the quality is equal. (c) A school district that purchases vegetation for landscaping purposes, including plants, shall give preference to Texas vegetation if the cost to the school district is equal and the quality is not inferior. (d) The agency shall conduct an analysis of purchases by school districts to determine the effectiveness of this section and shall report the results of its analysis to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year. (e) In the implementation of this section, a school district may receive assistance from and use the resources of the Texas Department of Agriculture, including information on availability of agricultural products. (f) A school district may not adopt product purchasing specifications that unnecessarily exclude agricultural products produced, processed, or grown in this state. (g) In this section: (1) "Agricultural products" includes textiles and other similar products. (2) "Processed" means canning, freezing, drying, juicing, preserving, or any other act that changes the form of a good from its natural state to another form. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1342, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. § 44.043. RIGHT TO WORK. (a) This section applies to a school district while the school district is engaged in: (1) procuring goods or services; (2) awarding a contract; or (3) overseeing procurement or construction for a public work or public improvement. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a school district: (1) may not consider whether a vendor is a member of or has another relationship with any organization; and (2) shall ensure that its bid specifications and any subsequent contract or other agreement do not deny or diminish the right of a person to work because of the person's membership or other relationship status with respect to any organization. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1409, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. § 44.044. CONTRACT WITH PERSON INDEBTED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT. (a) The board of trustees of a school district by resolution may establish regulations permitting the school district to refuse to enter into a contract or other transaction with a person indebted to the school district. (b) It is not a violation of this subchapter for a school district, under regulations adopted under Subsection (a), to refuse to award a contract to or enter into a transaction with an apparent low bidder or successful proposer that is indebted to the school district. (c) In this section, "person" includes an individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, nonprofit corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, and any other entity that proposes or otherwise seeks to enter into a contract or other transaction with the school district requiring approval by the board. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 156, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.SUBCHAPTER C. PENAL PROVISIONS § 44.051. INTERFERENCE WITH OPERATION OF FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM. An offense under Section 37.10, Penal Code, is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on trial of the offense that the governmental record was a record, form, report, or budget required under Chapter 42 or rules adopted under that chapter. If the actor's intent is to defraud the state or the public school system, the offense is a felony of the second degree. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.052. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH BUDGET REQUIREMENTS; PENALTY. (a) Any county superintendent approving any expenditure of school funds in excess of the item or items appropriated in the adopted budget or a supplementary or amended budget commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. (b) A person who fails to comply with the person's duties with regard to the preparation or the following of a county school budget or a budget of a school district or who violates any provision of Section 44.002 commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. (c) A trustee of a school district who votes to approve any expenditure of school funds in excess of the item or items appropriated in the adopted budget or a supplementary or amended budget commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. (d) Charges of the violation of this section may be instituted by the proper county or district attorney or by the attorney general. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.053. FAILURE OF MUNICIPAL OFFICER TO MAKE TREASURER'S REPORT; PENALTY. Any county or municipal treasurer or treasurer of the school board of each municipality having exclusive control of its schools who fails to make and transmit any report and certified copy thereof, or either, required by law, commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. § 44.054. FAILURE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS AND FUNDS. A county judge serving as ex officio county superintendent, a county, district, or municipal superintendent, or a school officer who refuses to transfer students and funds as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 25, commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS § 44.901. ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS. (a) In this section, "energy savings performance contract" means a contract for energy or water conservation measures to reduce energy or water consumption or operating costs of school facilities in which the estimated savings in utility costs resulting from the measures is guaranteed to offset the cost of the measures over a specified period. The term includes a contract for the installation or implementation of: (1) insulation of a building structure and systems within the building; (2) storm windows or doors, caulking or weatherstripping, multiglazed windows or doors, heat absorbing or heat reflective glazed and coated window or door systems, or other window or door system modifications that reduce energy consumption; (3) automatic energy control systems, including computer software and technical data licenses; (4) heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning system modifications or replacements that reduce energy or water consumption; (5) lighting fixtures that increase energy efficiency; (6) energy recovery systems; (7) electric systems improvements; (8) water-conserving fixtures, appliances, and equipment or the substitution of non-water-using fixtures, appliances, and equipment; (9) water-conserving landscape irrigation equipment; (10) landscaping measures that reduce watering demands and capture and hold applied water and rainfall, including: (A) landscape contouring, including the use of berms, swales, and terraces; and (B) the use of soil amendments that increase the water-holding capacity of the soil, including compost; (11) rainwater harvesting equipment and equipment to make use of water collected as part of a storm-water system installed for water quality control; (12) equipment for recycling or reuse of water originating on the premises or from other sources, including treated municipal effluent; (13) equipment needed to capture water from nonconventional, alternate sources, including air conditioning condensate or graywater, for nonpotable uses; (14) metering equipment needed to segregate water use in order to identify water conservation opportunities or verify water savings; or (15) other energy or water conservation-related improvements or equipment, including improvements or equipment relating to renewable energy or nonconventional water sources or water reuse. (b) The board of trustees of a school district may enter into an energy savings performance contract in accordance with this section. (c) Each energy or water conservation measure must comply with current local, state, and federal construction, plumbing, and environmental codes and regulations. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an energy savings performance contract may not include improvements or equipment that allow or cause water from any condensing, cooling, or industrial process or any system of nonpotable usage over which the public water supply system officials do not have sanitary control, to be returned to the potable water supply. (d) The board may enter into energy savings performance contracts only with persons who are experienced in the design, implementation, and installation of the energy or water conservation measures addressed by the contract. (e) Before entering into an energy savings performance contract, the board shall require the provider of the energy or water conservation measures to file with the board a payment and performance bond relating to the installation of the measures in accordance with Chapter 2253, Government Code. The board may also require a separate bond to cover the value of the guaranteed savings on the contract. (f) An energy savings performance contract may be financed: (1) under a lease/purchase contract that has a term not to exceed 15 years from the final date of installation and that meets federal tax requirements for tax-free municipal leasing or long-term financing; (2) with the proceeds of bonds; or (3) under a contract with the provider of the energy or water conservation measures that has a term not to exceed 15 years from the final date of installation. (g) An energy savings performance contract shall contain provisions requiring the provider of the energy or water conservation measures to guarantee the amount of the savings to be realized by the school district under the contract. If the term of an energy savings performance contract exceeds one year, the school district's contractual obligations in any one year during the term of the contract beginning after the final date of installation may not exceed the total energy, water, wastewater, and operating cost savings, including electrical, gas, water, wastewater, or other utility cost savings and operating cost savings resulting from the measures, as determined by the school district in this subsection, divided by the number of years in the contract term. (h) An energy savings performance contract shall be let according to the procedures established for procuring certain professional services by Section 2254.004, Government Code. Notice of the request for qualifications shall be published in the manner provided for competitive bidding. (i) Before entering into an energy savings performance contract, the board must require that the cost savings projected by an offeror be reviewed by a licensed professional engineer who is not an officer or employee of an offeror for the contract under review or otherwise associated with the contract or the offeror. An engineer who reviews a contract shall maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary information the engineer acquires while reviewing the contract. Sections 1001.053 and 1001.407, Occupations Code, apply to work performed under the contract. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1142, § 1, eff. June 19, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 361, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 573, § 1, 2, 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts, 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1319, § 1, eff, Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1310, § 5, 121(1), eff. June 20, 2003.
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