1-1 By: Hochberg (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) H.B. No. 1686
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1993;
1-3 May 6, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Education; May 12, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 12, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-8 Ratliff x
1-9 Haley x
1-10 Barrientos x
1-11 Bivins x
1-12 Harris of Tarrant x
1-13 Luna x
1-14 Montford x
1-15 Shapiro x
1-16 Sibley x
1-17 Turner x
1-18 Zaffirini x
1-19 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-20 AN ACT
1-21 relating to a pilot program for the inclusion of students with
1-22 disabilities in the regular classroom.
1-23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-24 SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
1-25 amended by adding Section 21.513 to read as follows:
1-26 Sec. 21.513. PILOT PROGRAM FOR INCLUSION. The Central
1-27 Education Agency shall establish procedures and criteria for the
1-28 allocation of funds appropriated under Section 16.151(m) of this
1-29 code to school districts selected by the agency to establish a
1-30 pilot program for the inclusion of students with disabilities in
1-31 the regular classroom so that those students may receive an
1-32 appropriate free public education in the least restrictive
1-33 environment.
1-34 SECTION 2. Section 16.151, Education Code, is amended by
1-35 adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
1-36 (m) From the total amount of funds appropriated for special
1-37 education under this section, the commissioner of education shall
1-38 withhold an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act,
1-39 which for the 1994-1995 biennium may not exceed $2 million, and
1-40 distribute that amount for programs under Section 21.513 of this
1-41 code. The program established under that section is required only
1-42 in school districts in which the program is financed by funds
1-43 distributed under this section and any other funds available for
1-44 the program. After deducting the amount withheld under this
1-45 subsection from the total amount appropriated for special
1-46 education, the commissioner of education shall reduce each
1-47 district's allotment proportionately and shall allocate funds to
1-48 each district accordingly.
1-49 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 1993-1994
1-50 school year.
1-51 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-52 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-53 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-54 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-55 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-56 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-57 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-58 * * * * *
1-59 Austin,
1-60 Texas
1-61 May 12, 1993
1-62 Hon. Bob Bullock
1-63 President of the Senate
1-64 Sir:
1-65 We, your Committee on Education to which was referred H.B.
1-66 No. 1686, have had the same under consideration, and I am
1-67 instructed to report it back to the Senate with the recommendation
1-68 that it do pass and be printed.
2-1 Ratliff,
2-2 Chairman
2-3 * * * * *
2-4 WITNESSES
2-5 No witnesses appeared on H.B. No. 1686.