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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to optional dispute resolution methods regarding |
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educational services for students with a disability, including |
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individualized education program facilitation. |
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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 Sections 29.019 and 29.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.019. OPTIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) The agency |
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and each school district shall provide information to parents |
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regarding optional dispute resolution methods that may be used when |
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a dispute arises between the district and a parent of a student with |
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a disability. The information: |
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(1) must be included with other information provided |
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to the parent of a student with a disability; and |
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(2) may be provided in a written or electronic format. |
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(b) Information provided by the agency under this section |
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must indicate that individualized education program facilitation |
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is an optional dispute resolution method that some districts may |
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choose to provide on a voluntary basis. |
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(c) If a school district chooses to offer individualized |
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education program facilitation as an optional dispute resolution |
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method: |
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(1) the district may determine whether to offer |
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facilitation through an independent facilitator, through a |
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district employee serving as a facilitator, or through a |
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combination of those methods; |
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(2) the information provided by the district under |
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this section must include a description of any applicable |
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procedures for requesting the facilitation; and |
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(3) the facilitation must be provided at no cost to a |
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parent. |
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(d) The use or availability of an optional dispute |
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resolution method, including individualized education program |
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facilitation, may not in any manner be used to deny or delay the |
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right to pursue a special education complaint, mediation, or due |
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process hearing in accordance with federal law. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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Sec. 29.020. INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM |
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FACILITATION. (a) The agency shall develop criteria and |
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procedures in accordance with this section applicable to |
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independent individualized education program facilitation provided |
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by the agency or a school district or regional education service |
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center. If the agency or a school district or regional education |
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service center chooses to provide independent individualized |
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education program facilitation, the facilitation must comply with |
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the criteria and procedures developed under this section. |
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(b) The criteria and procedures must include: |
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(1) a definition of independent individualized |
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education program facilitation; |
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(2) forms for implementing independent individualized |
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education program facilitation; |
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(3) training requirements for independent |
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facilitators; and |
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(4) an evaluation process through which information |
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may be collected regarding the implementation and effectiveness of |
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independent individualized education program facilitation provided |
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by the agency or a school district or regional education service |
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center. |
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(c) If the commissioner determines that adequate funding is |
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available, the commissioner may authorize the use of state or |
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federal funds to assist school districts and regional education |
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service centers in providing independent individualized education |
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program facilitation. |
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(d) Each regional education service center shall maintain a |
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list of independent facilitators who meet the criteria described by |
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Subsection (b)(3) and make the list available to school districts |
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and parents who choose to use independent individualized education |
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program facilitation. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2013, the Texas |
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Education Agency shall submit a report to the legislature regarding |
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the implementation and effectiveness of individualized education |
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program facilitation, including facilitation provided by an |
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independent facilitator and facilitation provided by a school |
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district employee acting as a facilitator. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2011. |
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