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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of a competitive grant program at the |
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Texas Education Agency for funding disciplinary programs for |
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at-risk youth. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.0082 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0082. FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE DISCIPLINARY AT-RISK |
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YOUTH PROGRAM GRANTS. (a) From funds appropriated for that |
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purpose, the agency shall award grants for funding to conduct youth |
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violence prevention, drug abuse prevention, or delinquency |
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prevention programs for at-risk youth in in-school suspension or |
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disciplinary alternative education program settings. |
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(b) A grant under this section shall be used to develop a |
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case management system for at-risk youth assigned to disciplinary |
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alternative education programs or in-school suspension settings in |
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grades 6 through 12. A district may not reduce funding for existing |
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programs supporting students in disciplinary alternative education |
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programs or in-school suspension settings by use of funds awarded |
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under this section. |
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(c) A school district may contract with a private provider, |
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another public school, or a regional education service center for |
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services to implement a grant under this section. A school district |
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must agree to participate in training, technical assistance, and |
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evaluations, as required by the agency. |
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(d) School districts awarded a grant under this section will |
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implement programs that: |
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(1) target students who demonstrate abusive conduct |
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and behaviors, including assault, abuse, aggression, |
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insubordination, bullying, sexual harassment, intimidation of |
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others, destruction of school property, sale or possession of |
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dangerous drugs, and possession of weapons; |
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(2) provide services to students selected by campus |
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principals for behavioral intervention; |
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(3) utilize documented violence prevention, drug |
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abuse prevention, or delinquency prevention programs, including |
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group skills training, individual behavioral counseling, and |
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community service learning projects; |
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(4) use a case management system for a 12-month period |
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of time with each student to assure a successful transition to the |
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regular education program; and |
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(5) work closely with the student's parents or |
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guardian or other person or agency standing in parental relation to |
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the student or having control of the student under a court order. |
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(e) The agency shall provide for a grant application, |
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review, and award process on a competitive basis and may use one or |
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more education service centers for that purpose and for training |
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and technical assistance. An education service center |
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participating in a grant proposal with a school district may not |
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participate in activities under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |