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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to professional development institutes regarding |
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education of students with disabilities to serve as a resource for |
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public school teachers and paraprofessionals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.461 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.461. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES REGARDING |
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EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The commissioner |
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shall develop and make available professional development |
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institutes for teachers and paraprofessionals relating to |
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research-based instructional services for students with |
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disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders. |
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(b) A professional development institute developed under |
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this section must address: |
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(1) disability-specific information necessary to |
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enable a teacher or paraprofessional to work effectively in the |
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classroom with students with disabilities; |
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(2) instructional techniques proven by scientifically |
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based research, as defined by Section 9101, No Child Left Behind Act |
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of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), to be effective in teaching the |
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curriculum required under Section 28.002 to students with |
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disabilities; and |
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(3) appropriate management of behaviors related to a |
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student's disability that may affect the student's performance. |
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(c) The commissioner shall develop one or more professional |
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development institutes that offer applied behavior analysis |
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training programs provided by or supervised by a person certified |
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as a behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. |
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A training program under this subsection must provide: |
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(1) public access to lectures and training on the |
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agency's Internet website and the appropriate regional education |
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service center's Internet website; |
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(2) individual consultation in the classroom with |
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students for at least six one-hour sessions; |
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(3) telephone or in-person video review for at least |
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three one-hour sessions; and |
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(4) access to the teacher's mentor through telephone |
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or videoconference consultation during the program. |
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(d) The commissioner shall develop a list of providers |
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approved to conduct an applied behavior analysis training program |
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under Subsection (c). A training program may be provided by a |
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regional education service center, district specialist, |
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university, private entity, private consultant, or other entity |
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that provides training. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selection of |
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teachers and paraprofessionals authorized to attend a professional |
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development institute, including an applied behavior analysis |
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training program, developed under this section. The commissioner |
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must give priority to teachers and paraprofessionals who have a |
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significant level of professional contact with students with autism |
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spectrum disorders. |
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(f) From funds appropriated for the purpose, as well as |
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other available sources, the commissioner shall pay a stipend to |
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each teacher or paraprofessional who completes a professional |
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development institute developed under Subsection (a). The |
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commissioner shall determine the amount of the stipend paid under |
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this subsection. |
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(g) The commissioner shall, for each teacher or |
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paraprofessional who completes training in an applied behavior |
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analysis training program developed under Subsection (c), pay to |
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the provider the cost of providing the program to the teacher or |
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paraprofessional. The commissioner may determine a maximum amount |
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that may be paid to provide the program under this subsection. |
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(h) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the |
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commissioner shall submit a report regarding the success of the |
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institutes developed under this section, including recommendations |
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for changes, to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative |
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committee with primary jurisdiction over public education. |
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SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. This |
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Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the |
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implementation of the Act is provided in the General Appropriations |
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Act of the 81st Legislature. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |