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79R4345 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 
Education and Communication Disorders at Lamar University in 
Beaumont.
	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 
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION DISORDERS.  (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 Education and Communication Disorders.
	(b)  The board shall establish the Lamar University Center 
for Excellence in Deaf Education and Communication Disorders 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:                                                   
		(1)  select a site for the center at Lamar University in 
Beaumont; and
		(2)  provide for the employment of staff and an 
operating budget for the center.
	(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)  An employee of the center is an employee of the Texas 
State University System.
	(h)  The center may enter into an agreement or may cooperate 
with a public or private entity to perform the research functions of 
the center.
	(i)  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 Center for Excellence in Deaf Education and 
Communication Disorders 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.