84R4530 LED-D

By: Schwertner S.B. No. 688

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the continuation and functions of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 115.005, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 115.005. SUNSET PROVISION. The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the committee is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2027 [2015].

SECTION 2. Section 115.009, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 115.009. FUNCTIONS. The committee shall:

(1) serve as a central source of information and education on the abilities, rights, problems, and needs of persons with disabilities and, as necessary, issue reports;

(2) provide information to and advise the governor and the governor's staff on matters relating to the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life;

(3) before the end of each even-numbered year, submit to the governor and to the legislature a report that includes[:

[(A) the status of the state's compliance with federal and state laws pertaining to rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities and recommendations to achieve further compliance, if necessary;

[(B) a long-range state plan for persons with disabilities and recommendations to implement that plan; and

[(C)] any recommended changes in state laws relating to persons with disabilities;

(4) serve as the state's liaison agency in working with the President's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities and other entities involved in activities or concerns affecting persons with disabilities;

(5) develop and work with a statewide network of volunteer community-level committees to promote dissemination of information about and implementation of federal and state laws addressing rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities;

(6) [evaluate the state's compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Pub. L. No. 101-336) and other federal and state statutes relating to rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities;

[(7)] provide information and technical assistance to public and private agencies and businesses to promote and facilitate implementation of the [federal] Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.)[(Pub. L. No. 101-336)] and other federal and state statutes relating to rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities;

(7) [ (8) collect and evaluate data on employment of persons with disabilities by state agencies;

[(9)] work with legislative committees and with state agencies on the development of laws and policies that affect persons with disabilities;

(8) [(10)] promote the compilation and publication of state laws relating to persons with disabilities; [and]

(9) [(11)] issue awards and other forms of recognition to persons and organizations making outstanding contributions to the employment of persons with disabilities and to public awareness of issues impacting persons with disabilities;

(10) identify each current long-range plan relating to persons with disabilities created by a state agency or a committee of a state agency and publish the link to the Internet website address for each long-range plan, if available, on the Internet website of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities; and

(11) review and analyze the long-range plans described by Subdivision (10) to identify gaps in state laws and services for persons with disabilities and make biennial recommendations in the committee's report required under Subdivision (3) to address identified gaps.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.