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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation and functions of the Governor's |
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Committee on People with Disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 115.005, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 115.005. SUNSET PROVISION. The Governor's Committee |
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on People with Disabilities is subject to Chapter 325, Government |
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Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided |
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by that chapter, the committee is abolished and this chapter |
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expires September 1, 2027 [2015]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 115.009, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 115.009. FUNCTIONS. The committee shall: |
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(1) serve as a central source of information and |
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education on the abilities, rights, problems, and needs of persons |
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with disabilities and, as necessary, issue reports; |
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(2) provide information to and advise the governor and |
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the governor's staff on matters relating to the full participation |
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of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life; |
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(3) before the end of each even-numbered year, submit |
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to the governor and to the legislature a report that includes[:
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[(A)
the status of the state's compliance with
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federal and state laws pertaining to rights and opportunities for
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persons with disabilities and recommendations to achieve further
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compliance, if necessary;
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[(B)
a long-range state plan for persons with
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disabilities and recommendations to implement that plan; and
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[(C)] any recommended changes in state laws |
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relating to persons with disabilities; |
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(4) serve as the state's liaison agency in working with |
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the Office of Disability [President's Committee on] Employment |
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Policy [of Persons with Disabilities] and other entities involved |
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in activities or concerns affecting persons with disabilities; |
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(5) develop and work with a statewide network of |
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volunteer community-level committees to promote dissemination of |
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information about and implementation of federal and state laws |
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addressing rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities; |
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(6) [evaluate the state's compliance with the federal
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Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Pub. L. No.
101-336) and
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other federal and state statutes relating to rights and
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opportunities for persons with disabilities;
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[(7)] provide information and technical assistance to |
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public and private agencies and businesses to promote and |
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facilitate implementation of the [federal] Americans with |
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Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.)[(Pub. L.
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No.
101-336)] and other federal and state statutes relating to |
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rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities; |
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(7) [(8)
collect and evaluate data on employment of
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persons with disabilities by state agencies;
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[(9)] work with legislative committees and with state |
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agencies on the development of laws and policies that affect |
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persons with disabilities; |
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(8) [(10)] promote the compilation and publication of |
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state laws relating to persons with disabilities; [and] |
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(9) [(11)] issue awards and other forms of recognition |
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to persons and organizations making outstanding contributions to |
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the employment of persons with disabilities and to public awareness |
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of issues impacting persons with disabilities; |
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(10) identify each current long-range plan relating to |
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persons with disabilities in this state created by a state agency, a |
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committee of a state agency, or a nonprofit organization required |
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by federal law to produce such a plan, and publish the link to the |
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Internet website address for each long-range plan, if available, on |
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the Internet website of the Governor's Committee on People with |
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Disabilities; and |
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(11) review and analyze the long-range plans described |
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by Subdivision (10) to identify gaps in state laws and services for |
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persons with disabilities and make biennial recommendations in the |
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committee's report required under Subdivision (3) to address |
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identified gaps. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |