|  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | 
      
        |  | AN ACT | 
      
        |  | relating to revocation of a charter for an open-enrollment charter | 
      
        |  | school and procedures for the disposition of property owned by a | 
      
        |  | charter school after revocation or surrender of a charter. | 
      
        |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
        |  | SECTION 1.  Section 12.116, Education Code, is amended by | 
      
        |  | amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (e) | 
      
        |  | and (f)  to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (a)  The commissioner shall adopt an informal review | 
      
        |  | procedure to be used for revoking the charter of an open-enrollment | 
      
        |  | charter school or for reconstituting the governing body of the | 
      
        |  | charter holder as authorized by Section 12.115. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A decision by the commissioner to revoke a charter is | 
      
        |  | subject to review by the State Office of Administrative | 
      
        |  | Hearings.  Notwithstanding Chapter 2001, Government Code: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall | 
      
        |  | conduct a revocation review hearing and issue a final decision not | 
      
        |  | later than the 90th day after the date that the notice of hearing is | 
      
        |  | filed with the State Office of Administrative Hearings; | 
      
        |  | (2)  the administrative law judge shall uphold a | 
      
        |  | decision by the commissioner to revoke a charter unless the judge | 
      
        |  | finds the decision is arbitrary and capricious or clearly | 
      
        |  | erroneous; and | 
      
        |  | (3) [ (2)]  a decision of the administrative law judge | 
      
        |  | under this subsection is final and may not be appealed. | 
      
        |  | (d)  If the commissioner issues a decision to revoke | 
      
        |  | [ revokes] the charter of an open-enrollment charter school, the | 
      
        |  | commissioner may: | 
      
        |  | (1)  manage the school until alternative arrangements | 
      
        |  | are made for the school's students; [ and] | 
      
        |  | (2)  assign operation of one or more campuses formerly | 
      
        |  | operated by the charter holder who held the revoked charter to a | 
      
        |  | different charter holder who consents to the assignment; | 
      
        |  | (3)  appoint a board of managers under Section 12.1165 | 
      
        |  | or an agent of the commissioner to close the operations of the | 
      
        |  | school and manage the disposition of the state's personal and real | 
      
        |  | property in the possession of the charter holder; or | 
      
        |  | (4)  take any combination of the actions described by | 
      
        |  | Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). | 
      
        |  | (e)  If the commissioner decides to manage the school under | 
      
        |  | Subsection (d)(1), the commissioner may: | 
      
        |  | (1)  allow the existing governing body of the school to | 
      
        |  | manage the school, under the commissioner's direction, until the | 
      
        |  | conclusion of the academic school year; | 
      
        |  | (2)  appoint a board of managers under Section 12.1165; | 
      
        |  | or | 
      
        |  | (3)  appoint an individual to serve as the agent of the | 
      
        |  | commissioner. | 
      
        |  | (f)  The commissioner shall transfer to the revoked charter | 
      
        |  | school liquidation account established under Section 12.269 any | 
      
        |  | funds received by the charter holder under Section 12.106 that | 
      
        |  | remain after the operations of the school are closed under this | 
      
        |  | section. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is | 
      
        |  | amended by adding Sections 12.1165 and 12.1166 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.1165.  APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF MANAGERS.  (a)  If the | 
      
        |  | commissioner issues a decision to revoke the charter of an | 
      
        |  | open-enrollment charter school, the commissioner may appoint a | 
      
        |  | board of managers and a charter superintendent to: | 
      
        |  | (1)  manage the school under Section 12.116(d)(1); or | 
      
        |  | (2)  close the operations of the school under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.116(d)(3). | 
      
        |  | (b)  The commissioner may designate an individual member of | 
      
        |  | the board of managers to submit to the agency any required data, | 
      
        |  | reports, or other information necessary to close the operations of | 
      
        |  | the school. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The board of managers may exercise all of the powers and | 
      
        |  | duties assigned to a governing body of a charter holder by any | 
      
        |  | statute or rule. | 
      
        |  | (d)  Except as provided by Section 12.1285(e), if the | 
      
        |  | governing body of a charter holder is managing a school under | 
      
        |  | Section 12.116(e)(1), the governing body's powers are terminated on | 
      
        |  | the effective date of the commissioner's appointment of the board | 
      
        |  | of managers. | 
      
        |  | (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the | 
      
        |  | board of managers may amend the school's budget.  The board of | 
      
        |  | managers may use cash on hand received by the former charter holder | 
      
        |  | under Section 12.106 or any allocation of state funding due to the | 
      
        |  | revoked charter holder under Section 12.106 to close the operations | 
      
        |  | of the school.  Actions taken under this subsection are subject to | 
      
        |  | the approval of the commissioner. | 
      
        |  | (f)  A person who serves on the board of managers or as a | 
      
        |  | charter superintendent under this section acts on behalf of the | 
      
        |  | commissioner and is entitled to: | 
      
        |  | (1)  sovereign immunity; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  representation by the attorney general for any act | 
      
        |  | or omission taken while acting in the person's official capacity. | 
      
        |  | (g)  The board of managers shall continue to operate until | 
      
        |  | dissolved by the commissioner.  Members of the board of managers and | 
      
        |  | a charter superintendent serve at the discretion of the | 
      
        |  | commissioner and may be replaced by the commissioner at any time. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.1166.  COMPENSATION OF BOARD OF MANAGERS AND CHARTER | 
      
        |  | SUPERINTENDENT.  (a)  The commissioner may authorize compensation | 
      
        |  | for a member of a board of managers or a charter superintendent | 
      
        |  | appointed under Section 12.1165. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The commissioner shall establish the terms of | 
      
        |  | compensation provided under Subsection (a). | 
      
        |  | (c)  The commissioner shall use funds received by or due to | 
      
        |  | the former charter holder under Section 12.106 for compensation of | 
      
        |  | a charter superintendent or a member of a board of managers. | 
      
        |  | (d)  If funds described by Subsection (c) are not available | 
      
        |  | or the commissioner determines that the circumstances require, the | 
      
        |  | commissioner may use: | 
      
        |  | (1)  funds from the revoked charter school liquidation | 
      
        |  | account established under Section 12.269; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  available agency funds, provided that the use of | 
      
        |  | the available funds for that purpose is not prohibited by other law. | 
      
        |  | (e)  If the commissioner determines that the amount | 
      
        |  | appropriated for purposes of the Foundation School Program exceeds | 
      
        |  | the amount to which school districts are entitled under Chapters 42 | 
      
        |  | and 46, the commissioner may authorize the comptroller to transfer | 
      
        |  | funds from the Foundation School Program to the agency's | 
      
        |  | administrative account for compensation as provided by this | 
      
        |  | section. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is | 
      
        |  | amended by adding Sections 12.1285 and 12.12851 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.1285.  TRANSFER OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ON REVOCATION OR | 
      
        |  | SURRENDER OF CHARTER.  (a)  Not later than the 90th day after the | 
      
        |  | effective date of the revocation or surrender of a charter, the | 
      
        |  | former charter holder shall remit all public funds to the state and: | 
      
        |  | (1)  remit all public personal property to the state, | 
      
        |  | retitle all public real property in the name of the state, and | 
      
        |  | transfer the title for all public real property to the agency; | 
      
        |  | (2)  retitle or remit all public real or personal | 
      
        |  | property to another charter holder for use in student instruction; | 
      
        |  | (3)  retitle or remit all public real or personal | 
      
        |  | property to a school district for use in student instruction; or | 
      
        |  | (4)  provide documentation to the commissioner that: | 
      
        |  | (A)  demonstrates that public real or personal | 
      
        |  | property was returned to the holder of a valid lien or security | 
      
        |  | interest that was perfected before the revocation of the charter to | 
      
        |  | satisfy a creditor under Section 12.128(e); and | 
      
        |  | (B)  includes a written agreement by the creditor | 
      
        |  | to remit to the state all excess proceeds from the sale of the | 
      
        |  | public property after satisfaction of the secured debt. | 
      
        |  | (b)  A charter holder that receives a transfer of public real | 
      
        |  | property under Subsection (a)(2) must: | 
      
        |  | (1)  assume all secured debts and liens on the | 
      
        |  | property; | 
      
        |  | (2)  file an affidavit with the agency stating that the | 
      
        |  | property is public property of the state; | 
      
        |  | (3)  use the property as an instructional facility for | 
      
        |  | students and obtain approval to operate in that facility in | 
      
        |  | accordance with this subchapter; and | 
      
        |  | (4)  return the property to the state if: | 
      
        |  | (A)  the school's charter is revoked; | 
      
        |  | (B)  the charter holder fails to receive approval | 
      
        |  | to operate at the facility in accordance with this subchapter; or | 
      
        |  | (C)  the charter holder fails to use the facility | 
      
        |  | as authorized under this section. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The commissioner shall dispose of any public real | 
      
        |  | property returned to the state under Subsection (b)(4). | 
      
        |  | (d)  A school district that receives a transfer of public | 
      
        |  | real property under Subsection (a)(3) assumes all secured debts and | 
      
        |  | liens on the property. | 
      
        |  | (e)  Notwithstanding the appointment of a board of managers | 
      
        |  | and the termination of the governing body's powers under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.1165(d), the governing body of a charter holder whose charter is | 
      
        |  | revoked or surrendered may determine which entity to transfer | 
      
        |  | public property to under Subsection (a). If a board of managers is | 
      
        |  | managing the school under Section 12.1165, the governing body shall | 
      
        |  | work with the board of managers to ensure that any property being | 
      
        |  | used for student instruction is not transferred or disposed of | 
      
        |  | until after the last day of student instruction at the school that | 
      
        |  | occurs before the effective date of the revocation or surrender of | 
      
        |  | the charter. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.12851.  DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY ON REVOCATION OR | 
      
        |  | SURRENDER OF CHARTER.  (a)  In supervising the disposition of | 
      
        |  | property under Section 12.128(c)(2), the commissioner may: | 
      
        |  | (1)  file a suit for receivership under Subchapter G; | 
      
        |  | or | 
      
        |  | (2)  seek a court of competent jurisdiction to declare | 
      
        |  | the property to be state property and order the property to be | 
      
        |  | titled in the name of the state. | 
      
        |  | (b)  If a former charter holder returns property to the state | 
      
        |  | under Section 12.1285(a)(1) or the commissioner obtains a court | 
      
        |  | declaration described by Subsection (a)(2): | 
      
        |  | (1)  the General Land Office shall: | 
      
        |  | (A)  sell any real property through any method | 
      
        |  | available to the General Land Office; and | 
      
        |  | (B)  transfer any proceeds of the sale of the real | 
      
        |  | property to the revoked charter school liquidation account | 
      
        |  | established under Section 12.269; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  the Texas Facilities Commission shall transfer any | 
      
        |  | proceeds from the sale of property disposed of under Chapter 2175, | 
      
        |  | Government Code, into the revoked charter school liquidation | 
      
        |  | account established under Section 12.269. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The proceeds of the sale of property under Subsection | 
      
        |  | (b) are not subject to the requirements of the General | 
      
        |  | Appropriations Act or statutory requirements or rules related to | 
      
        |  | the general revenue fund. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 4.  Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding | 
      
        |  | Subchapter G to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | SUBCHAPTER G.  CHARTER SCHOOL RECEIVERSHIP AND LIQUIDATION | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.251.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of this subchapter is to | 
      
        |  | aid the commissioner in carrying out the commissioner's duty under | 
      
        |  | Section 12.128 to supervise the disposition of public property | 
      
        |  | assets that are in the possession of a charter school that ceases to | 
      
        |  | operate.  This subchapter shall be liberally construed to permit | 
      
        |  | the commissioner, acting as a receiver, to promptly dispose of | 
      
        |  | public property to preserve state assets. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.252.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter: | 
      
        |  | (1)  "Former charter school" means an open-enrollment | 
      
        |  | charter school that no longer operates as a charter school under | 
      
        |  | this chapter and Chapter 39 because the school's charter has been | 
      
        |  | revoked or surrendered. | 
      
        |  | (2)  "Liquidation order" means a final order entered by | 
      
        |  | the receivership court approving the receiver's disposition of all | 
      
        |  | public property and closing the receivership. | 
      
        |  | (3)  "Proposed disposition plan" means a plan presented | 
      
        |  | by the receiver to the court that accounts for the disposition of | 
      
        |  | all assets in the possession of a former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (4)  "Receiver" means the commissioner, acting in an | 
      
        |  | official capacity to take possession, assume control, and dispose | 
      
        |  | of public property of a former charter school.  The term includes a | 
      
        |  | special deputy receiver. | 
      
        |  | (5)  "Receivership order" means a court order by which | 
      
        |  | the court assumes jurisdiction, opens a receivership proceeding, | 
      
        |  | and appoints the commissioner as the receiver for the assets of a | 
      
        |  | former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (6)  "Special deputy receiver" means a person appointed | 
      
        |  | by or acting under a contract with the commissioner as a receiver on | 
      
        |  | the commissioner's behalf. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.253.  RECEIVERSHIP; JURISDICTION AND VENUE.  (a)  If | 
      
        |  | the commissioner revokes or accepts the surrender of the charter of | 
      
        |  | a charter school, the commissioner may determine that a | 
      
        |  | receivership is warranted to conserve or dispose of public property | 
      
        |  | over which the commissioner assumes control or possession under | 
      
        |  | this chapter or Chapter 39. | 
      
        |  | (b)  At the request of the commissioner, the attorney general | 
      
        |  | shall bring an action in a Travis County district court to appoint a | 
      
        |  | receiver to liquidate the assets of a former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A court does not have jurisdiction over any receivership | 
      
        |  | proceeding for a charter school commenced on behalf of a person | 
      
        |  | other than the commissioner. | 
      
        |  | (d)  Not later than the 30th day after the date the attorney | 
      
        |  | general brings an action to appoint a receiver under this section, | 
      
        |  | the court shall enter a receivership order opening the receivership | 
      
        |  | proceeding. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.254.  RECEIVERSHIP ORDER.  (a) A receivership order | 
      
        |  | shall: | 
      
        |  | (1)  appoint the commissioner and any successor in | 
      
        |  | office as the receiver for the former charter school; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  direct the receiver to take possession of the | 
      
        |  | property of the former charter school and administer the property | 
      
        |  | subject to this subchapter. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The receiver may request that the receivership court | 
      
        |  | appoint a single judge to supervise the receivership and hear any | 
      
        |  | cases or controversies arising out of or related to the | 
      
        |  | receivership. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The rights and liabilities of all persons interested in | 
      
        |  | the assets of the former charter school become fixed as of the date | 
      
        |  | of entry of the court's receivership order. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.255.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF RECEIVER.  (a) The | 
      
        |  | receiver may assume or reject any executory contract or unexpired | 
      
        |  | lease of the former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, the receiver is | 
      
        |  | authorized to liquidate by sale or contract for sale any real | 
      
        |  | property owned by a former charter school to satisfy debts of the | 
      
        |  | school and return public property and proceeds to the state. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The receiver may elect to dispose of the former charter | 
      
        |  | school's property using provisions for: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the disposal of surplus and salvage property under | 
      
        |  | Chapter 2175, Government Code; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  the sale of real property under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.12851(b). | 
      
        |  | (d)  If the receiver disposes of real property under | 
      
        |  | Subsection (c)(2), the receivership court shall assume sole | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction of the transfer of title. | 
      
        |  | (e)  If the receiver or court determines that property placed | 
      
        |  | in the receivership is federal or trust property or otherwise not | 
      
        |  | state public property, the receiver must dispose of that property | 
      
        |  | in accordance with applicable law. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.256.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.  (a)  Any law | 
      
        |  | governing the procurement of goods and services by the state does | 
      
        |  | not apply to a contract entered into by the commissioner as a | 
      
        |  | receiver.  This subchapter does not waive any immunity or create a | 
      
        |  | cause of action against the state. | 
      
        |  | (b)  A receiver appointed under this subchapter may not be | 
      
        |  | required to pay any filing, recording, transcript, or | 
      
        |  | authentication fee to any public officer in the state. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.257.  SPECIAL DEPUTY RECEIVER; OTHER EMPLOYMENT. | 
      
        |  | (a)  The receiver may appoint or contract with one or more special | 
      
        |  | deputy receivers to act for the receiver under this subchapter and | 
      
        |  | may employ or contract with legal counsel, actuaries, accountants, | 
      
        |  | appraisers, consultants, clerks, assistants, and other personnel | 
      
        |  | necessary to assist in the liquidation of the former charter | 
      
        |  | school's assets. | 
      
        |  | (b)  A special deputy receiver has all powers of the receiver | 
      
        |  | granted by this subchapter, unless specifically limited by the | 
      
        |  | receiver and except as provided in Sections 12.259(b), 12.262(d) | 
      
        |  | and (e), and 12.264(c), and serves at the pleasure of the receiver. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A special deputy receiver or other person with whom the | 
      
        |  | receiver contracts under this section may act on behalf of the | 
      
        |  | commissioner only in the commissioner's capacity as receiver. | 
      
        |  | (d)  The receiver may determine the reasonable compensation | 
      
        |  | for any special deputy receiver, employee, or contractor and pay | 
      
        |  | compensation in accordance with Section 12.262. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.258.  PERFORMANCE BOND.  The court may require a | 
      
        |  | special deputy receiver to execute a bond to ensure the proper | 
      
        |  | performance of the special deputy receiver's duties under this | 
      
        |  | subchapter in an amount to be set by the court. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.259.  ASSETS OF FORMER CHARTER SCHOOL.  (a) The | 
      
        |  | receiver or a special deputy receiver shall take possession of all | 
      
        |  | student and personnel records, books, papers, electronic data, | 
      
        |  | personal and real property, and other assets purchased or acquired, | 
      
        |  | wholly or partly, with state funds of a former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (b)  If a record or asset described by Subsection (a) is in | 
      
        |  | the possession of a special deputy receiver, the receiver may | 
      
        |  | review that asset promptly on request made to the special deputy | 
      
        |  | receiver. | 
      
        |  | (c)  Notwithstanding Section 12.128(a) or (b), if the | 
      
        |  | charter holder can show through the charter holder's records that | 
      
        |  | any real property was purchased or acquired with nonpublic funds, | 
      
        |  | the receiver shall: | 
      
        |  | (1)  return the real property to the former charter | 
      
        |  | holder in accordance with Section 12.255(e) if the real property | 
      
        |  | was purchased wholly with nonpublic funds; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  remit to the former charter holder the net | 
      
        |  | proceeds from the sale of the real property in proportion to the | 
      
        |  | amount of nonpublic funds used to purchase or acquire the real | 
      
        |  | property if the real property was purchased partially with public | 
      
        |  | funds. | 
      
        |  | (d)  The receiver or special deputy receiver is required to | 
      
        |  | comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 | 
      
        |  | U.S.C. Section 1232g). | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.260.  IMMUNITY, INDEMNIFICATION, AND | 
      
        |  | REPRESENTATION.  (a)  The commissioner is entitled to immunity for | 
      
        |  | all acts taken as a receiver.  A special deputy receiver is entitled | 
      
        |  | to immunity to the same extent as the commissioner acting as a | 
      
        |  | receiver. | 
      
        |  | (b)  If any legal action is commenced against the receiver or | 
      
        |  | a special deputy receiver, whether against the receiver or special | 
      
        |  | deputy receiver personally or in their official capacity, resulting | 
      
        |  | from an alleged act, error, or omission of the receiver or special | 
      
        |  | deputy receiver arising out of or by reason of their duties or | 
      
        |  | employment, the receiver or special deputy receiver is indemnified | 
      
        |  | for all expenses, attorney's fees, judgments, settlements, | 
      
        |  | decrees, or amounts due and owing or paid in satisfaction of or | 
      
        |  | incurred in the defense of the legal action, unless it is determined | 
      
        |  | on a final adjudication on the merits that the alleged act, error, | 
      
        |  | or omission of the receiver or special deputy receiver giving rise | 
      
        |  | to the claim: | 
      
        |  | (1)  did not arise out of or by reason of the receiver's | 
      
        |  | or special deputy receiver's duties or employment; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  was caused by intentional or wilful and wanton | 
      
        |  | misconduct. | 
      
        |  | (c)  Any indemnification shall first be paid from the assets | 
      
        |  | of the former charter school.  If no assets of the former charter | 
      
        |  | school are available, the state shall indemnify the receiver or | 
      
        |  | special deputy receiver. | 
      
        |  | (d)  The attorney general shall represent the receiver or | 
      
        |  | special deputy receiver: | 
      
        |  | (1)  in all actions relating to a receivership under | 
      
        |  | this subchapter; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  in any suit challenging an action taken by the | 
      
        |  | receiver or special deputy receiver in the receiver's or special | 
      
        |  | deputy receiver's capacity as a receiver unless the conduct was | 
      
        |  | caused by intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.261.  REQUESTED NOTICE.  (a)  On written request to | 
      
        |  | the receiver, a person must be placed on the service list to receive | 
      
        |  | notice of matters filed by the receiver.  It is the responsibility | 
      
        |  | of the person requesting notice to inform the receiver in writing of | 
      
        |  | any changes in the person's address or e-mail address or to request | 
      
        |  | that the person's name be deleted from the service list.  The | 
      
        |  | receiver may require that a person on the service list provide | 
      
        |  | confirmation to remain on the service list.  Any person who fails to | 
      
        |  | confirm the person's intent to remain on the service list may be | 
      
        |  | purged from the service list.  Inclusion on the service list does | 
      
        |  | not confer standing in the receivership proceeding to raise, | 
      
        |  | appear, or be heard on any issue. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Notice of a proposed disposition plan to a person on the | 
      
        |  | service list must be provided as established by Section 12.265. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.262.  APPROVAL AND PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.  (a)  The | 
      
        |  | receiver shall submit an estimate of expenses to the receivership | 
      
        |  | court for approval.  The expenses of a receivership under this | 
      
        |  | section do not include the debts of a former charter school under | 
      
        |  | Sections 12.263(b)(1) and (2). | 
      
        |  | (b)  The receiver may pay any expenses under contracts, | 
      
        |  | leases, employment agreements, or other arrangements entered into | 
      
        |  | by the former charter school before receivership from the assets of | 
      
        |  | the former charter school.  The receiver is not required to pay any | 
      
        |  | expenses that the receiver determines are not necessary and may | 
      
        |  | reject any contract under Section 12.255(a). | 
      
        |  | (c)  The receiver may deposit former charter school funds in | 
      
        |  | the revoked charter school liquidation account established under | 
      
        |  | Section 12.269 and pay former charter school expenses from that | 
      
        |  | account. | 
      
        |  | (d)  If a special deputy receiver has been appointed to pay | 
      
        |  | certain expenses and the special deputy receiver has insufficient | 
      
        |  | funds to pay those expenses from the assets of the former charter | 
      
        |  | school, the special deputy receiver may request that the receiver | 
      
        |  | draw funds from the revoked charter school liquidation account | 
      
        |  | established under Section 12.269 to pay the expenses. | 
      
        |  | (e)  If the receiver determines that the expenses under | 
      
        |  | Subsection (d) are necessary, the receiver may withdraw the amount | 
      
        |  | necessary to pay the expenses of the receivership. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.263.  PRIORITIZATION AND SATISFACTION OF DEBTS.  (a) | 
      
        |  | The state, commissioner, or receiver may not be held liable for the | 
      
        |  | debts or liabilities incurred by a former charter school. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, the | 
      
        |  | receiver shall satisfy debts of a former charter school in | 
      
        |  | accordance with a proposed disposition plan after payment of: | 
      
        |  | (1)  secured debts and liens perfected on public | 
      
        |  | property before the school's charter was revoked, as described by | 
      
        |  | Section 12.128(e); | 
      
        |  | (2)  debts to state and federal governmental entities, | 
      
        |  | including payments to a conservator, monitor, superintendent, or | 
      
        |  | member of a board of managers or management; and | 
      
        |  | (3)  expenses of the receivership. | 
      
        |  | (c)  After satisfaction of the debts and expenses listed in | 
      
        |  | Subsection (b), any remaining state assets of a former charter | 
      
        |  | school shall be used to satisfy debts in the following priority, | 
      
        |  | unless otherwise ordered by the receivership court: | 
      
        |  | (1)  salary owed to non-administrative faculty and | 
      
        |  | staff; | 
      
        |  | (2)  unpaid, unsecured rent on leasehold; | 
      
        |  | (3)  vendors; and | 
      
        |  | (4)  any other debts recognized by law. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.264.  PROPOSED DISPOSITION PLAN.  (a)  The receiver | 
      
        |  | shall file with the court a proposed disposition plan that accounts | 
      
        |  | for: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the disposition of all known assets of the former | 
      
        |  | charter school; | 
      
        |  | (2)  the amount of all expenses that the receiver may | 
      
        |  | incur; and | 
      
        |  | (3)  any debts of the former charter school that the | 
      
        |  | receiver proposes to satisfy. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The proposed disposition plan must specifically | 
      
        |  | identify any property that is not considered to be public property | 
      
        |  | under Section 12.128. | 
      
        |  | (c)  If the commissioner appoints a special deputy receiver | 
      
        |  | to develop the disposition plan, the special deputy receiver must | 
      
        |  | present the plan to the commissioner for approval before filing the | 
      
        |  | plan with the court. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.265.  NOTICE OF PROPOSED DISPOSITION PLAN.  (a) | 
      
        |  | Unless the receivership court otherwise directs, the receiver shall | 
      
        |  | give notice of the proposed disposition plan as soon as possible: | 
      
        |  | (1)  by first class mail or electronic communication as | 
      
        |  | permitted by the receivership court to: | 
      
        |  | (A)  any person known or reasonably expected to | 
      
        |  | have a claim against the former charter school, at the person's last | 
      
        |  | known address as indicated by the records of the former charter | 
      
        |  | school; | 
      
        |  | (B)  each state and federal agency with an | 
      
        |  | interest in the proceeding; and | 
      
        |  | (C)  any person on the service list under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.261; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  by publication in a newspaper of general | 
      
        |  | circulation in the county in which the principal place of business | 
      
        |  | of the former charter school was located, in any county in which the | 
      
        |  | former charter holder operated a school during the preceding three | 
      
        |  | school years, and in any other location the receiver deems | 
      
        |  | appropriate. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The notice of the proposed disposition plan must contain | 
      
        |  | or provide directions for obtaining the following information: | 
      
        |  | (1)  a statement that the former charter school has | 
      
        |  | ceased to operate and that the commissioner has taken possession | 
      
        |  | and assumed control of the school's assets under Section 12.128; | 
      
        |  | (2)  a statement of the date, time, and location of any | 
      
        |  | initial status hearing scheduled at the time the notice is sent; | 
      
        |  | (3)  a description of the process for obtaining notice | 
      
        |  | of matters before the receivership court; and | 
      
        |  | (4)  any other information the receiver or the | 
      
        |  | receivership court deems appropriate. | 
      
        |  | (c)  If notice is given in accordance with this section, the | 
      
        |  | distribution of property of the former charter school under this | 
      
        |  | subchapter is conclusive with respect to all claimants, regardless | 
      
        |  | of whether the claimant received notice. | 
      
        |  | (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, | 
      
        |  | the receiver has no duty to locate any person if an address is not | 
      
        |  | found in the records of the former charter school or if mailings are | 
      
        |  | returned to the receiver because of the inability to deliver to the | 
      
        |  | address shown in the records of the school.  If notice is not given | 
      
        |  | to a person as provided by this subsection, notice by publication or | 
      
        |  | actual notice received is sufficient. | 
      
        |  | (e)  Written certification by the receiver or other | 
      
        |  | knowledgeable person acting for the receiver that the notice was | 
      
        |  | deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or that the | 
      
        |  | notice has been electronically transmitted is prima facie evidence | 
      
        |  | of mailing and receipt of notice.  All claimants shall keep the | 
      
        |  | receiver informed of any changes of address. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.266.  HEARING AND APPEAL ON DISPOSITION PLAN.  (a) | 
      
        |  | Any party objecting to the proposed disposition plan must file an | 
      
        |  | objection specifying the grounds for the objection not later than | 
      
        |  | the 45th day after the date of the notice of the filing of the | 
      
        |  | proposed disposition plan or within another period as the | 
      
        |  | receivership court may set.  An objection must also be served on the | 
      
        |  | receiver and any other person served with the proposed disposition | 
      
        |  | plan.  An objecting party has the burden of showing why the | 
      
        |  | receivership court should not authorize the proposed disposition | 
      
        |  | plan or any other action proposed by the receiver. | 
      
        |  | (b)  If no objection to the proposed disposition plan is | 
      
        |  | timely filed, the receivership court shall enter an order approving | 
      
        |  | the application without a hearing.  The receiver may request that | 
      
        |  | the receivership court enter an order or hold a hearing on any | 
      
        |  | outstanding motions on an expedited basis. | 
      
        |  | (c)  If an objection is timely filed, the receivership court | 
      
        |  | may hold a hearing.  If the receivership court approves the proposed | 
      
        |  | disposition plan and, on a motion by the receiver, determines that | 
      
        |  | the objection was frivolous or filed for delay or for another | 
      
        |  | improper purpose, the receivership court shall order the objecting | 
      
        |  | party to pay the receiver's reasonable costs and fees of defending | 
      
        |  | the action. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.267.  LIQUIDATION ORDER.  (a)  When the receiver has | 
      
        |  | disposed of all assets according to the proposed disposition plan | 
      
        |  | approved by the court, the receiver shall promptly apply to the | 
      
        |  | receivership court for entry of a liquidation order. | 
      
        |  | (b)  On demonstration to the court that the receiver has | 
      
        |  | complied with the disposition plan and all assets have been | 
      
        |  | disposed of in accordance with the plan, the court shall enter a | 
      
        |  | liquidation order discharging the receiver and closing the | 
      
        |  | receivership. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A liquidation order under this subchapter is final and | 
      
        |  | may not be appealed. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.268.  DISPOSITION OF REMAINING FUNDS.  After a | 
      
        |  | liquidation order has been entered, the commissioner shall deposit | 
      
        |  | any remaining funds from the former charter school in the revoked | 
      
        |  | charter school liquidation account established under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.269. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.269.  REVOKED CHARTER SCHOOL LIQUIDATION ACCOUNT. | 
      
        |  | (a) The commissioner shall remit to the comptroller funds received | 
      
        |  | under Sections 12.116, 12.128, 12.1285, and this subchapter for | 
      
        |  | deposit in an interest-bearing deposit account outside the treasury | 
      
        |  | in the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company to be known as the | 
      
        |  | revoked charter school liquidation account. Money in the account | 
      
        |  | may be spent by the commissioner only for the purposes provided by | 
      
        |  | this section. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The revoked charter school liquidation account shall be | 
      
        |  | administered by the commissioner to pay the expenses: | 
      
        |  | (1)  incurred during a receivership of a former charter | 
      
        |  | school; | 
      
        |  | (2)  of managing a former charter school under Section | 
      
        |  | 12.116; or | 
      
        |  | (3)  of disposing of property under Section 12.128, | 
      
        |  | 12.1285, or 12.12851. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The commissioner shall annually review the revoked | 
      
        |  | charter school liquidation account and transfer any funds exceeding | 
      
        |  | $2 million to the comptroller for deposit in the charter district | 
      
        |  | bond guarantee reserve fund established under Section 45.0571.  The | 
      
        |  | commissioner may delay a transfer under this subsection if the | 
      
        |  | excess does not exceed $100,000. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 12.270.  RULES.  The commissioner may adopt rules | 
      
        |  | necessary to implement this subchapter. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 2175, Government Code, is | 
      
        |  | amended by adding Section 2175.005 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 2175.005.  CHARTER SCHOOLS.  For purposes of this | 
      
        |  | chapter, a charter school is treated as a political subdivision | 
      
        |  | that has the authority to acquire surplus or salvage property. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 6.  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, 2015. |