By Greenberg H.B. No. 1167
75R5619 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to dyslexia coordinators for school districts and regional
1-3 education service centers.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 38.003, Education Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 38.003. SCREENING AND TREATMENT FOR DYSLEXIA AND
1-8 RELATED DISORDERS. (a) Students enrolling in public schools in
1-9 this state shall be tested for dyslexia and related disorders at
1-10 appropriate times in accordance with a program approved by the
1-11 State Board of Education.
1-12 (b) In accordance with the program approved by the State
1-13 Board of Education, the board of trustees of each school district
1-14 shall provide for the treatment of any student determined to have
1-15 dyslexia or a related disorder.
1-16 (c) Each regional education service center shall employ at
1-17 least one dyslexia coordinator to assist school districts in
1-18 implementing this section and rules adopted under this section.
1-19 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules and
1-20 standards necessary to administer this section.
1-21 (e) [(d)] In this section:
1-22 (1) "Dyslexia" means a disorder of constitutional
1-23 origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or
1-24 spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and
2-1 sociocultural opportunity.
2-2 (2) "Dyslexia coordinator" means a person who holds a
2-3 certificate as a reading specialist issued as provided by
2-4 Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and who is trained in the recognized,
2-5 research-based teaching strategies needed by a student with
2-6 dyslexia or a related disorder.
2-7 (3) "Related disorders" includes disorders similar to
2-8 or related to dyslexia, such as developmental auditory
2-9 imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia,
2-10 developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
2-11 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1997-1998
2-12 school year.
2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19 passage, and it is so enacted.