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.