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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program for public schools and regional |
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education service centers to provide services related to educating |
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students with autism. |
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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 29.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.026. GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS |
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WITH AUTISM. (a) The commissioner shall establish a program to |
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award grants to: |
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(1) school districts and open-enrollment charter |
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schools that provide innovative services to students with autism; |
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and |
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(2) regional education service centers that provide |
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specialized training on evidence-based practices to classroom |
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teachers who teach students with autism. |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school is |
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eligible for a grant under Subsection (a)(1) if the district or |
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school offers a program that incorporates: |
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(1) evidence-based and research-based design; |
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(2) the use of empirical data on student achievement |
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and improvement; |
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(3) parental support and collaboration; |
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(4) the use of technology; |
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(5) professional development; |
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(6) meaningful inclusion; and |
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(7) the ability to replicate the program for students |
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statewide. |
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(c) A regional education service center is eligible for a |
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grant under Subsection (a)(2) if the center provides specialized |
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training that incorporates: |
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(1) evidence-based and research-based design; |
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(2) de-escalation and positive behavioral |
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interventions and supports; |
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(3) the use of empirical data on student achievement |
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and improvement; |
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(4) ongoing professional development; |
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(5) ongoing coaching services; and |
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(6) the ability to replicate the training statewide. |
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(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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that receives a grant under this section may not: |
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(1) charge a fee for the program, other than those |
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authorized by law for students in public schools; |
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(2) require a parent to enroll a child in the program; |
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(3) allow an admission, review, and dismissal |
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committee to place a student in the program without the written |
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consent of the student's parent or guardian; or |
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(4) continue the placement of a student in the program |
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after the student's parent or guardian revokes consent, in writing, |
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to the student's placement in the program. |
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(e) A program under Subsection (a)(1) may: |
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(1) alter the length of the school day or school year |
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or the number of minutes of instruction received by students; |
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(2) coordinate services with private or |
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community-based providers; |
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(3) allow the participation of students without |
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disabilities or with other disabilities, if that participation is |
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consistent with requirements applicable to students with autism for |
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placement in the least restrictive environment under 34 C.F.R. |
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Section 300.114; and |
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(4) adopt staff qualifications and staff to student |
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ratios that differ from the applicable requirements of this title. |
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(f) The commissioner shall create an external panel of |
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stakeholders, including parents of students with disabilities, to |
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provide assistance in the selection of applications for the award |
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of grants under this section. |
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(g) The commissioner may award not more than 10 grants under |
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Subsection (a)(1). In selecting programs to receive a grant under |
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that subsection, the commissioner shall prioritize programs that |
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are collaborations between multiple school districts, multiple |
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charter schools, or school districts and charter schools. The |
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selected programs must reflect the diversity of this state. |
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(h) A grant award under Subsection (a)(1) may not exceed |
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$1 million in a state fiscal biennium. |
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(i) The commissioner shall use at least half of the money |
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appropriated for grants under this section to award grants under |
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Subsection (a)(2). |
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(j) A grant awarded to a school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school under this section is in addition to the Foundation |
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School Program money that the district or charter school is |
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otherwise entitled to receive. A grant awarded under this section |
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may not come out of Foundation School Program money. |
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(k) The commissioner and any program selected under this |
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section may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or |
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private source, person, or group to implement and administer the |
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program. The commissioner and any program selected under this |
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section may not require any financial contribution from parents to |
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implement and administer the program. |
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(l) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules establishing an application and selection |
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process for awarding grants. |
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(m) Not later than December 31, 2030, the commissioner shall |
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submit to the legislature a report on the grant program under this |
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section. The report must include: |
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(1) recommendations for statutory or funding changes |
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necessary to implement successful innovations in the education of |
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students with autism; and |
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(2) data on the academic and functional achievements |
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of students enrolled in a program that received a grant under this |
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section. |
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(n) This section expires September 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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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, 2025. |