Sec. 29.124. CERTIFICATION AND REPORTING REQUIRED. (a) Each school district shall annually certify to the commissioner that the district has established a program for gifted and talented students as required by this subchapter and that the program is consistent with the state plan developed under Section 29.123.

(b) If the commissioner determines that a school district has failed to comply with Subsection (a) for a school year, the commissioner shall reduce the total amount of funding to which the district is entitled under Chapter 48 for that school year by an amount equal to the basic allotment multiplied by the product of:

(1) 0.12; and

(2) an amount equal to five percent of the students in average daily attendance in the district.

(c) The commissioner may restore to a school district all or part of the funding withheld from the district's entitlement under Subsection (b) if during the school year the district complies with Subsection (a).

(d) At the same time that a school district makes the certification required under Subsection (a), the district shall report to the commissioner regarding the use of funds on the district's program for gifted and talented students as provided by State Board of Education rule.

(e) Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the number of students that a school district may identify as gifted and talented or serve under the district's program for gifted and talented students.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 2.018, eff. June 12, 2019.