BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 124

79R2362 SLO-D                                                                                                             By: Shapiro

                                                                                                                                            Education

                                                                                                                                            2/15/2005

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently Section 89.1055(e), Texas Administrative Code, requires that special considerations be made for students with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders. The rule listing special considerations to be made for students with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders has been in place since 1984, and does not provide for the large body of research performed over the past twenty years regarding autism and how to educate autistic students.  The population of autistic students in Texas has increased by almost 600 percent over the past twenty years. Consequently, not all students with autism are being provided with the educational service that best meet their individual needs.  As proposed, S.B. 124 will assemble a group of stakeholders, including parents of students with autism, teachers, school officials, and other interested parties, to review the current rule and recommend any changes that should be made, no later than July 1, 2006, so that the rule can be amended. 

 

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.0051, as follows:

 

            Sec. 29.0051. STUDY OF RULE CONCERNING CONTENT OF INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR STUDENT WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. (a) Requires the Texas Education Agency to establish a committee composed of parents of students with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders, teachers, school administrators, and other interested persons to study the rule concerning the content of an individualized education program for a student with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder (19 T.A.C. Section 89.1055(e) (Adaptations For Special Populations)).

 

                        (b) Requires the committee, when studying the rule, to consider relevancy of the rule and whether any other considerations, such as applied behavior analysis, communication training, or other use of inclusive settings, should be included in the rule. 

 

                        (c) Requires the committee, no later than July 1, 2006, to recommend to the commissioner of education any necessary changes to the rule.

 

                        (d) Provides that this section expires August 1, 2006.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.