By:  Shapiro, Barrientos                               S.B. No. 697
            Lucio
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to a pilot program for the inclusion of students with
    1-2  disabilities in the regular classroom.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter N, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
    1-5  amended by adding Section 21.513 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 21.513.  PILOT PROGRAM FOR INCLUSION.  The Central
    1-7  Education Agency shall establish procedures and criteria for the
    1-8  allocation of funds appropriated under Section 16.151(m) of this
    1-9  code to school districts selected by the agency to establish a
   1-10  pilot program for the inclusion of students with disabilities in
   1-11  the regular classroom so that those students may receive an
   1-12  appropriate free public education in the least restrictive
   1-13  environment.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  Section 16.151,  Education Code, is amended by
   1-15  adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
   1-16        (m)  From the total amount of funds appropriated for special
   1-17  education under this section, the commissioner of education shall
   1-18  withhold an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act,
   1-19  which for the 1994-1995 biennium may not exceed $2 million, and
   1-20  distribute that amount for programs under Section 21.513 of this
   1-21  code.  The program established under that section is required only
   1-22  in school districts in which the program is financed by funds
   1-23  distributed under this section and any other funds available for
   1-24  the program.  After deducting the amount withheld under this
    2-1  subsection from the total amount appropriated for special
    2-2  education, the commissioner of education shall reduce each
    2-3  district's allotment proportionately and shall allocate funds to
    2-4  each district accordingly.
    2-5        SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 1993-1994
    2-6  school year.
    2-7        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-8  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-9  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-10  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-11  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-12  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-13  passage, and it is so enacted.