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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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to maintain an inventory of postsecondary educational programs and |
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services for persons with intellectual and developmental |
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disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0663 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0663. INVENTORY OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL |
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PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND |
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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. (a) The board shall maintain an |
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inventory of all postsecondary educational programs and services |
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provided for persons with intellectual and developmental |
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disabilities by institutions of higher education. |
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(b) The board shall: |
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(1) post the inventory on the board's Internet website |
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in an easily identifiable and accessible location; |
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(2) submit the inventory to the Texas Education Agency |
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for inclusion in the transition and employment guide under Section |
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29.0112; and |
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(3) update the inventory at least once every two |
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years. |
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(c) At times prescribed by the board, each institution of |
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higher education shall report to the board all programs and |
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services described by Subsection (a) provided by that institution. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.0112(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The transition and employment guide must contain |
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information specific to this state regarding: |
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(1) transition services; |
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(2) employment and supported employment services; |
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(3) social security programs; |
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(4) community and long-term services and support; |
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(5) postsecondary educational programs and services, |
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including the inventory maintained by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board under Section 61.0663; |
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(6) information sharing with health and human services |
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agencies and providers; |
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(7) guardianship and alternatives to guardianship; |
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(8) self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and |
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self-determination; and |
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(9) contact information for all relevant state |
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agencies. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall compile the inventory required by Section 61.0663, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2016. The |
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Texas Education Agency shall comply with Section 29.0112(b)(5), |
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Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
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the inventory is available. |
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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, 2015. |