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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant available to school districts to provide |
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services to students residing in care and treatment facilities and |
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residential placement facilities. |
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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 29.0181 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.0181. GRANT PROGRAM TO EDUCATE STUDENTS RESIDING IN |
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CARE AND TREATMENT FACILITIES. (a) This section applies to a |
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student residing in a care and treatment facility, other than a |
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state school, or residential placement facility whose parent or |
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person standing in parental relation to the student does not reside |
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in the school district providing education services to the student. |
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(b) From funds appropriated for the purposes of this |
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section, federal funds, or any other funds available, the |
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commissioner shall make grants available to school districts to |
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assist districts in covering the cost of educating students |
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residing in care and treatment facilities or residential placement |
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facilities. |
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(c) A school district is eligible to apply for a grant under |
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this section if: |
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(1) the district does not receive sufficient funds, |
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including state funds provided under Sections 42.151 and 42.152, |
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and federal funds, for a student residing in a care and treatment |
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facility or residential placement facility to pay for the education |
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services provided to the student; or |
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(2) the district does not receive sufficient funds, |
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including state funds provided under Sections 42.151 and 42.152, |
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and federal funds, for all students in the district residing in care |
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and treatment facilities or residential placement facilities to pay |
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for the education services provided to the students. |
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(d) A school district that applies for a grant under this |
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section must provide the commissioner with a report comparing the |
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state and federal funds received by the district for students |
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residing in care and treatment facilities and residential placement |
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facilities with the expenses incurred by the district in providing |
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education services to students residing in care and treatment |
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facilities and residential placement facilities. |
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(e) Expenses that may be included by a school district in |
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applying for a grant under this section include the cost of training |
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personnel to provide education services to a student residing in a |
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care and treatment facility or a residential placement facility. |
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(f) A school district that receives a grant under this |
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section must educate students residing in care and treatment |
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facilities and residential placement facilities in the least |
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restrictive environment that is appropriate to meet the student's |
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educational needs. |
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(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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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. |