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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the age at which transition planning begins for a public |
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school student receiving special education services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.011, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.011. TRANSITION PLANNING. The commissioner shall |
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by rule adopt procedures for compliance with federal requirements |
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relating to transition services for students who are enrolled in |
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special education programs under this subchapter. The procedures |
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must: |
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(1) provide that transition planning begins for a |
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student not later than when the student reaches 14 years of age; and |
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(2) specify the manner in which a student's admission, |
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review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate, |
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address the following issues in the student's individualized |
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education program: |
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(A) [(1)] appropriate student involvement in the |
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student's transition to life outside the public school system; |
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(B) [(2)] if the student is younger than 18 years |
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of age, appropriate parental involvement in the student's |
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transition; |
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(C) [(3)] if the student is at least 18 years of |
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age, appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition, |
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if the parent is invited to participate by the student or the school |
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district in which the student is enrolled; |
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(D) [(4)] any postsecondary education options; |
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(E) [(5)] a functional vocational evaluation; |
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(F) [(6)] employment goals and objectives; |
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(G) [(7)] if the student is at least 18 years of |
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age, the availability of age-appropriate instructional |
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environments; |
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(H) [(8)] independent living goals and |
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objectives; and |
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(I) [(9)] appropriate circumstances for |
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referring a student or the student's parents to a governmental |
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agency for services. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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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, 2009. |
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* * * * * |