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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board regarding best practices for assisting students |
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with autism spectrum disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.06694 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.06694. STUDY AND REPORT ON ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH |
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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. (a) The board, with the assistance of |
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the advisory council on postsecondary education for persons with |
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intellectual and developmental disabilities established under |
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Section 61.06641, shall conduct a study to determine best practices |
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for assisting students with autism spectrum disorder who are |
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enrolled at institutions of higher education. |
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(b) The study must: |
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(1) identify and track: |
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(A) the number of students with autism spectrum |
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disorder who graduate from secondary schools in this state; |
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(B) the number of students with autism spectrum |
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disorder who are enrolled at institutions of higher education; |
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(C) the student financial assistance available |
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to students with autism spectrum disorder who enroll at |
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institutions of higher education; and |
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(D) the graduation rates of students with autism |
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spectrum disorder who enroll at institutions of higher education; |
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and |
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(2) identify and examine best practices and program |
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modules from public and private institutions of higher education |
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outside this state that have achieved successful results in working |
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with students with autism spectrum disorder. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the board: |
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(1) shall collaborate with the Texas Education Agency |
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regarding specialized programs offered by elementary or secondary |
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schools for students with autism spectrum disorder to determine how |
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those programs could be replicated at or extended to postsecondary |
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institutions; and |
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(2) may not request, require, or use personally |
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identifiable student information. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2025, the board shall submit |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and the commissioner of education a written |
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report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations |
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for legislative or other action. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |