By Olivo                                              H.B. No. 2360
         76R6730 CAS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the right of parents to information concerning special
 1-3     education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Section 26.0081 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 26.0081.  RIGHT TO INFORMATION CONCERNING SPECIAL
 1-8     EDUCATION.  (a)  The agency shall compose a comprehensive, easily
 1-9     understood document  that explains the process by which an
1-10     individualized education program is developed for a student in a
1-11     special education program and the rights and responsibilities of a
1-12     parent concerning the process.  The document must include
1-13     information a parent needs to effectively participate in an
1-14     admissions, review, and dismissal committee meeting for the
1-15     parent's child.
1-16           (b)  A parent of a child who is eligible to participate in a
1-17     school district's special education program under Subchapter A,
1-18     Chapter 29, is entitled to be provided a copy of the document by
1-19     the district.
1-20           (c)  The agency shall ensure that each school district
1-21     provides the document required under this section:
1-22                 (1)  as soon as practicable after a child is determined
1-23     to be eligible for admission into the district's special education
1-24     program; and
 2-1                 (2)  at any other time on reasonable request of the
 2-2     child's parent.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  (a)  The Texas Education Agency shall compose the
 2-4     document required under Section 26.0081, Education Code, as added
 2-5     by this Act, not later than March 1, 2000.
 2-6           (b)  Each school district shall provide the document required
 2-7     under Section 26.0081, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
 2-8     later than September 1, 2000, to the parent of or the person
 2-9     standing in parental relation to each child participating in the
2-10     district's special education program.
2-11           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-12           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.