By: Eissler (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) H.B. No. 2823
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2003;
May 13, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 22, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 22, 2003, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to individual transition plans for certain students
receiving special education services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.011(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
[(a)] The commissioner [Texas Education Agency, the Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and the Texas
Rehabilitation Commission] shall [develop, agree to, and] by rule
adopt procedures for compliance with federal requirements relating
to transition [a memorandum of understanding that establishes the
respective responsibilities of each agency for the provision of]
services for [necessary to prepare] students who are enrolled in
special education programs under this subchapter [for a successful
transition to life outside of the public school system]. The
procedures must specify the manner in which a student's admission,
review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate,
address the following issues in the student's individualized
education program:
(1) appropriate student involvement in the student's
transition to life outside the public school system;
(2) if the student is younger than 18 years of age,
appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition;
(3) if the student is at least 18 years of age,
appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition, if
the parent is invited to participate by the student or the school
district in which the student is enrolled;
(4) any postsecondary education options;
(5) a functional vocational evaluation;
(6) employment goals and objectives;
(7) if the student is at least 18 years of age, the
availability of age-appropriate instructional environments;
(8) independent living goals and objectives; and
(9) appropriate circumstances for referring a student
or the student's parents to a governmental agency for services.
SECTION 2. Sections 29.011(b)-(e), Education Code, are
repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
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