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)".