SRC-JJJ C.S.S.B. 870 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 870
By: Cain
Education
4/6/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, parents or guardians of special education students are provided
with a brochure explaining the procedural safeguards in the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act as required by federal law.  The brochure
does not include the information about the special education process which
parents need in order to effectively participate in their child's
Admissions Review and Dismissal meetings.  C.S.S.B. 870 would establish
provisions regarding the right of parents to information concerning special
education.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 870 establishes provisions regarding the right of
parents to information concerning special education.  

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 Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.0081,
as follows: 

Sec. 26.0081.  RIGHT TO INFORMATION CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION. Requires
the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to produce and provide to school districts
sufficient copies of a comprehensive, easily understood document that
explains the process by which an individualized educational program is
developed for a student in a special education program and the rights and
responsibilities of a parent concerning the process. Requires the document
to contain information the parent needs to effectively participate in an
admission review, and dismissal committee meeting for the child.  Provides
that TEA will ensure that each school district provides the document
required to the parent under certain conditions. 

SECTION 2. Requires TEA to ensure that each school district provides the
required document not later than June 1, 2001, to the parent of or the
person standing in parental relation to each child participating in the
district's special education program.   

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
           

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  

Amends Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.0081, regarding the
right to information concerning special education.  Deletes proposed
SECTION 1, regarding certain information for the parents of special
education students. 

 SECTION 2.

Requires the TEA to ensure delivery of proper documentation to certain
parents concerning the school district's special education programs.
Deletes proposed SECTION 2, regarding the development of a statewide plan
regarding certain services to children with disabilities. 

SECTION 3.  

 Effective date: September 1, 1999, rather than upon passage.
 
SECTION 4.  

 Emergency clause.