BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 861

By: Patrick, Diane

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The continuing advisory committee for special education services, as appointed by the governor, currently does not include a director of special education programs who could provide local, firsthand experience and offer broad knowledge of current special education programs to the committee.

H.B. 861 revises the committee membership requirements to require the appointment of at least one special education program director, in order to gain the perspective of a professional who is familiar with statewide and local programs serving more than 400,000 students daily.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 861 amends the Education Code to require at least one member appointed by the governor to the continuing advisory committee for special education services under federal law to be a director of special education programs for a school district or for a shared services arrangement of multiple school districts. The bill requires the governor, not later than February 1, 2013, to appoint a member to the continuing advisory committee as necessary to ensure that the committee's composition complies with this requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.