The Texas Attorney General’s Office has responded to an initial request for an opinion by Sen. Paul Bettencourt in regards to the restrictions on the use of a school district’s public funds to provide transportation to and from polling places and for political communication for or against a particular measure or candidate. The summary of the Opinion of the Attorney General states:
Absent an educational purpose in providing students transportation to the polling locations, a court would likely conclude that the transportation serves no public purpose of the school district and therefore violates article III, section 52(a) of the Texas Constitution.
If a school district employee has no responsibility or duty to perform on behalf of the school district at the polling location, a court would likely conclude that a school district's funding of transportation to the polling location for that individual serves no public purpose of the school district and therefore violates article III, section 52(a) of the Texas Constitution.
Section 11.169 of the Education Code prohibits a board of trustees of a school district from using public funds to work for a particular measure or candidate. In addition, subsection 255.003(a) of the Election Code makes it a criminal offense for an officer or employee of a school district to knowingly spend or authorize the spending· of public funds for political advertising. A court would likely conclude that the use of public funds to link to an Internet website promoting a specific candidate or measure is itself a communication supporting or opposing a candidate or measure in violation of this provision.
If a school district employee has no responsibility or duty to perform on behalf of the school district at the polling location, a court would likely conclude that a school district's funding of transportation to the polling location for that individual serves no public purpose of the school district and therefore violates article III, section 52(a) of the Texas Constitution.
Section 11.169 of the Education Code prohibits a board of trustees of a school district from using public funds to work for a particular measure or candidate. In addition, subsection 255.003(a) of the Election Code makes it a criminal offense for an officer or employee of a school district to knowingly spend or authorize the spending· of public funds for political advertising. A court would likely conclude that the use of public funds to link to an Internet website promoting a specific candidate or measure is itself a communication supporting or opposing a candidate or measure in violation of this provision.
To read the complete opinion with further details: KP-0177
Click on this link to read the: Public Education Mission, Objectives, and Goals
Click on this link to read: Section 11.169 of the Education Code
