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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public education and public school finance matters. |
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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 29.021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.021 RESIDENTIAL CARE AND TREATMENT FACILITIES GRANT |
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PROGRAM. |
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(a) From funds appropriated for the purposes of this section |
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or any other funds available, the commissioner shall make grants |
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available to school districts to assist districts in covering the |
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cost of educating students with disabilities residing in care and |
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treatment facilities, other than state schools, whose parents or |
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guardians do not reside in the district providing education |
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services. |
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(b) 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 Section 42.151 and federal |
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funds, for a student with disabilities residing in care and |
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treatment facilities, other than state schools, whose parents or |
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guardians do not reside in the district providing education |
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services to pay for the special education services provided to the |
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student; or |
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(2) the district does not receive sufficient funds, |
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including state funds provided under Section 42.151 and federal |
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funds, for all students with disabilities in the district residing |
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in care and treatment facilities, other than state schools, whose |
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parents or guardians do not reside in the district providing |
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education services to pay for the special education services |
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provided to the students. |
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(c) 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 with |
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disabilities residing in care and treatment facilities, other than |
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state schools, whose parents or guardians do not reside in the |
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district providing education services and the expenses incurred by |
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the district in providing special education services to students |
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with disabilities. |
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(d) 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 special education services to a student with |
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disabilities residing in care and treatment facilities, other than |
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state schools, whose parents or guardians do not reside in the |
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district providing education services. |
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(e) A school district that receives a grant under this |
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section must educate students with disabilities residing in care |
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and treatment facilities, other than state schools, whose parents |
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or guardians do not reside in the district providing education |
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services in the least restrictive environment that is appropriate |
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to meet the student's educational needs. |
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(f) 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. |