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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications of special education personnel in |
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public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.0051. QUALIFICATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION |
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PERSONNEL. (a) A student who is enrolled in a special education |
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program must have an education in which teachers, related services |
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personnel, and paraprofessionals who regularly provide special |
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education instruction and related services are informed about the |
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unique nature of the student's special needs. |
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(b) The commissioner by rule shall require each school |
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district to include in each student's individualized education |
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program any information or requirement determined necessary to |
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ensure that each person providing special education instruction or |
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related services to the student is appropriately certified in |
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accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner, if |
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applicable, in appropriate education methods. The commissioner |
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shall adopt rules to establish minimum qualifications for teachers, |
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related services personnel, and paraprofessionals providing |
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special education instruction and related services to special |
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education students. |
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(c) Each school district shall employ or provide access to |
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appropriate qualified personnel consistent with credentialing |
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requirements and the minimum qualifications established by the |
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commissioner under subsection (b), to fulfill the responsibilities |
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of the school district. |
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(d) The school district must ensure that regular and special |
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education personnel who work with students enrolled in a special |
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education program are reasonably prepared through training to |
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provide educational instruction and related services to those |
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students. Such training may be determined by the student's |
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admission, review and dismissal committee. |
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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. |