Amend HB 1886 (senate committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  Section 29.011, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 29.011.  TRANSITION PLANNING. (a)  The commissioner shall by rule adopt procedures for compliance with federal requirements relating to transition services for students who are enrolled in special education programs under this subchapter. The procedures must specify the manner in which a student's admission, review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate, address the following issues in the student's individualized education program:

(1)  appropriate student involvement in the student's transition to life outside the public school system;

(2)  if the student is younger than 18 years of age, appropriate [parental] involvement in the student's transition by the student's parents and other persons invited to participate by:

(B)  the school district in which the student is enrolled;

(3)  if the student is at least 18 years of age, [appropriate parental] involvement in the student's transition and future by the student's parents and other persons, if the parent or other person:

(A)  is invited to participate by the student or the school district in which the student is enrolled; or

(B)  has the student's consent to participate pursuant to a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code;

(4)  appropriate [any] postsecondary education options, including preparation for postsecondary-level coursework;

(5)  an appropriate [a] functional vocational evaluation;

(6)  appropriate employment goals and objectives;

(7)  if the student is at least 18 years of age, the availability of age-appropriate instructional environments, including community settings or environments that prepare the student for postsecondary education or training, competitive integrated employment, or independent living, in coordination with the student's transition goals and objectives;

(8)  appropriate independent living goals and objectives; [and]

(9)  appropriate circumstances for facilitating a referral of [referring] a student or the student's parents to a governmental agency for services or public benefits, including a referral to a governmental agency to place the student on a waiting list for public benefits available to the student, such as a waiver program established under Section 1915(c), Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n(c)); and

(B)  supports and services to foster the student's independence and self-determination, including a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code.

(b)  The commissioner shall require each school district or shared services arrangement to designate at least one employee to serve as the district's or shared services arrangement's designee on transition and employment services for students enrolled in special education programs under this subchapter. The commissioner shall develop minimum training guidelines for a district's or shared services arrangement's designee. An individual designated under this subsection must provide information and resources about effective transition planning and services, including each issue described by Subsection (a), and interagency coordination to ensure that local school staff communicate and collaborate with:

(1)  students enrolled in special education programs under this subchapter and the parents of those students; and

(2)  as appropriate, local and regional staff of the:

(A)  Health and Human Services Commission;

(B)  Texas Workforce Commission  [Department of Aging and Disability Services];

(C)  [Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services;

[(D)]  Department of State Health Services; and

(D) [(E)]  Department of Family and Protective Services.

SECTION ____.  Sections 29.0112(b) and (e), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b)  The transition and employment guide must be written in plain language and contain information specific to this state regarding:

(1)  transition services;

(2)  employment and supported employment services;

(3)  social security programs;

(4)  community and long-term services and support, including the option to place the student on a waiting list with a governmental agency for public benefits available to the student, such as a waiver program established under Section 1915(c), Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n(c));

(5)  postsecondary educational programs and services, including the inventory maintained by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.0663;

(6)  information sharing with health and human services agencies and providers;

(7)  guardianship and alternatives to guardianship, including a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code;

(8)  self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and self-determination; and

(9)  contact information for all relevant state agencies.

(e)  A school district shall:

(1)  post the transition and employment guide on the district's website if the district maintains a website; [and]

(2)  provide written information and, if necessary, assistance to a student or parent regarding how to access the electronic version of the guide at:

(A)  the first meeting of the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee at which transition is discussed; and [or]

(B)  the first committee meeting at which transition is discussed that occurs after the date on which the guide is updated; and

(3)  on request, provide a printed copy of the guide to a student or parent [becomes available, if a student has already had an admission, review, and dismissal committee meeting discussing transition].

SECTION ____.  Section 29.017, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), (c-3), (e), and (f) to read as follows:

(c)  Not later than one year before the 18th birthday of a student with a disability, the school district at which the student is enrolled shall:

(c-1)  In accordance with 34 C.F.R. Section 300.520 [300.517], the school district shall provide written notice to [notify] the student and the student's parents of the transfer of rights under this section. The notice must include the information and resources provided under Subsection (c)(1)(B).

(d)  The commissioner shall develop and post on the agency's Internet website the information and resources described by Subsections (c), (c-1), and (c-2).

(e)  Nothing in this section prohibits a student from entering into a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code, after the transfer of rights under this section. 

(f)  The commissioner shall adopt rules implementing the provisions of 34 C.F.R. Section 300.520(b) [300.517(b)].

SECTION ____.  Sections 29.011, 29.0112, and 29.017, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.