SRC-JBJ H.B. 1275 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1275
By: Luna, Vilma (Zaffirini)
Education
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, federal law requires every student with disabilities who is
eligible for special education services to have an individualized education
plan (IEP).  The student's parents, teachers, principal, a diagnostician,
and others develop the plan to determine what special education and related
serve the school will provide to the student and outlines the academic
expectations of the student.  The letter that notifies the parents of a
meeting to develop, revise, or review the IEP must be translated to the
parent's native language, according to the federal law.  However, no state
or federal law requires the IEP to be translated.  H.B. 1275 would require
the school district to provide parents with a copy of the student's IEP in
the native language of the parents, via a written report or an audio taped
translation. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1275 requires the individualized education program of a
student with disabilities to be translated into the parents' native
language. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 29.005, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(d), to require a school district to provide the parents with a copy of the
child's individualized education program (IEP) that is translated into the
parent's native language, if the parent cannot read English, if a community
volunteer is available.  Authorizes the district to provide the parent with
an audio taped translation of the IEP made during the course of the
admission, review, and dismissal meeting, if the district provides
documentation of a good faith effort to provide the parent with a written
translation of the child's IEP and documentation that a written translation
is not feasible. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.