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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a grant program to provide |
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additional resources for public school students with disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.028. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "student with a disability" means a student who |
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is: |
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(1) eligible to participate in a school district's |
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special education program under Section 29.003; |
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(2) covered by Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
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(29 U.S.C. Section 794); or |
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(3) covered by the Individuals with Disabilities |
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Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). |
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(b) From funds appropriated for the purposes of this |
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section, federal funds, or any other funds available, not later |
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than August 1 of each year, the commissioner shall distribute money |
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to each school district in a manner that provides each district an |
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equal amount of money for each student with a disability enrolled in |
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the district. |
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(c) Funds provided to a school district under Subsection (b) |
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must be used by the district to establish a program under which the |
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district issues grants to students with disabilities enrolled in |
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the district. Funds received by a student under this section may |
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only be used to provide additional: |
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(1) learning resources at the student's residence; or |
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(2) assistance for remote or virtual learning. |
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(d) A school district shall adopt procedures creating an |
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application and selection process for grants awarded under |
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Subsection (c). The procedures must require the parent or legal |
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guardian of a student with a disability to provide a detailed |
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description of the proposed use of the grant money. |
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(e) A school district shall determine the amount of each |
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grant awarded under Subsection (c). |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |