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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a committee to evaluate special |
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education services in 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 29.022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.022. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES EVALUATION |
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COMMITTEE. (a) A committee is established under this section to |
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examine, review, and evaluate the provision of special education |
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services by public school districts in the state. |
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(b) The commissioner, in collaboration with the lieutenant |
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governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, shall |
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appoint members of the committee. The committee shall be composed |
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of: |
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(1) one member of the house of representatives; |
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(2) one member of the senate; |
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(3) one superintendent of a school district; |
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(4) one special education teacher; |
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(5) three parents of students who receive special |
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education services from a school district; |
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(6) one physician who is a doctor of medicine; and |
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(7) one attorney who specializes in education law. |
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(c) The commissioner, in collaboration with the lieutenant |
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governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, shall |
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designate a member of the committee to serve as presiding officer. |
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(d) The commissioner, in collaboration with the lieutenant |
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governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, shall |
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appoint the members of the committee not later than November 1, |
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2015. |
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(e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of |
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the committee on or before December 1, 2015. The committee shall |
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meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines |
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are appropriate. The committee shall adopt rules necessary to |
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fulfill the committee's duties under this section. |
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(f) Members of the committee serve without compensation. |
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(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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committee. |
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(h) The committee shall: |
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(1) evaluate the compliance of each public school |
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district with current laws and rules related to special education |
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services; and |
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(2) review current laws and rules related to special |
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education services in public schools and recommend changes or |
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improvements to the laws or rules. |
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(i) Not later than November 1, 2016, the committee shall |
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deliver a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of |
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the house of representatives, and appropriate committees of the |
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legislature that includes: |
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(1) a description of the activities of the committee; |
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(2) the findings and recommendations of the committee, |
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including any proposed policy and research recommendations; and |
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(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the |
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committee considers appropriate. |
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(j) The committee is abolished and this section expires |
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December 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2015. |