ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY.

(a) Expired.

(b) Each regional education service center shall:

(1) notify each school district served by the center regarding the opportunities available through the center for cooperative shared services arrangements within the center's service area; and

(2) evaluate the need for cooperative shared services arrangements within the center's service area and consider expanding center-sponsored cooperative shared services arrangements.

(c) Each regional education service center shall assist a school district board of trustees in entering into an agreement with another district or political subdivision, a regional education service center, or an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, for a cooperative shared services arrangement regarding administrative services, including transportation, food service, purchasing, and payroll functions.

(d) The commissioner may require a district to enter into a cooperative shared services arrangement for administrative services if the commissioner determines:

(1) that the district has failed to satisfy a financial accountability standard as determined by commissioner rule under Subchapter D, Chapter 39; and

(2) that entering into a cooperative shared services arrangement would:

(A) enable the district to enhance its performance on the financial accountability standard identified under Subdivision (1); and

(B) promote the efficient operation of the district.

(e) The commissioner may require an open-enrollment charter school to enter into a cooperative shared services arrangement for administrative services if the commissioner determines, after an audit conducted under Section 12.1163, that such a cooperative shared services arrangement would promote the efficient operation of the school.