79R12513 JRJ-F
By: Ritter H.B. No. 868
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a Center for Excellence in Deaf
Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 96, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 96.708 to read as follows:
Sec. 96.708. LAMAR UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEAF
STUDIES AND DEAF EDUCATION. (a) In this section:
(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the Texas
State University System.
(2) "Center" means the Lamar University Center for
Excellence in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
(b) The board shall establish the Lamar University Center
for Excellence in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education for the purposes
of advancing deaf education programs in Texas by:
(1) collaborating with the Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services and the Texas School for the Deaf to assess
deaf education needs in this state and strategies to address those
needs;
(2) studying bilingual education programs for the
deaf;
(3) studying improved teacher training; and
(4) studying the incorporation of technology into deaf
education.
(c) The center shall develop a strategic plan to guide and
evaluate the center's progress toward achieving the purposes of the
center in accordance with this section. The strategic plan must:
(1) describe the goals, objectives, and performance
standards for each of the center's programs and how those programs
help the center to achieve its purposes;
(2) assess the needs of the center's programs and
faculty; and
(3) assess the center's need for new initiatives.
(d) The organization, control, and management of the center
are vested in the board.
(e) The board shall select a location for the center at
Lamar University.
(f) The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and
grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of
the center.
(g) The board may use any available funds, including
legislative appropriations made to Lamar University for
instruction, operations, or infrastructure support, federal funds,
or gifts or grants to establish or operate the center.
SECTION 2. Subject to the availability of funding, the
board of regents of the Texas State University System shall
establish the Lamar University Center for Excellence in Deaf
Studies and Deaf Education as provided by Section 96.708, Education
Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2007.
SECTION 3. 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, 2005.