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.