SRC-TJG, AMY H.B. 1691 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1691 By: Phillips (Zaffirini) Education 5/24/2003 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Dyslexia is a developmental disability that affects a person's ability to process, understand, recall and express information. Dyslexia generally becomes evident early in a child's school career. School districts are required to provide for the treatment of students with dyslexia. Under current law, a school district is entitled to compensatory education funding to provide services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or who are at risk of dropping out of school. However, a school district is prohibited from using compensatory education funds for a program provided for dyslexic students under Section 38.003 (Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders), Education Code. H.B. 1691 allows compensatory education funds to be used for accelerated reading programs for students at risk of dyslexia and for treatment programs for students who have been determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 42.152, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c-1) to authorize funds allocated under this section, notwithstanding Subsection (c), to fund an accelerated reading instruction program under Section 28.006(g) (Reading Diagnosis) or a program for treatment of students who have dyslexia or a related disorder, as required by Section 38.003 (Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003. LIST OF COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No 1: Amends H.B. 1691 as follows: (1) In Section 1 of the bill, in proposed Subsection (c-1), Section 42.152, Education Code (House Engrossment, page 1, line 9), between "fund" and ":", insert " in proportion to the percentage of students served by the program that meet the criteria in Section 29.081(d) or (g)".