BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3369

By: Huberty

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding a need for changes in the statewide plan for special education to enable regional education service centers to better assist public school districts in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. H.B. 3369 seeks to provide for those changes by including specifically designed assistance for such programs among the core services maintained by regional education service centers. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3369 amends the Education Code to include assistance specifically designed for a public school district that is considered in need of intervention or substantial intervention based on the most recent determination of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) regarding the district's special education programs under federal regulations among the core services required to be maintained by each regional education service center for purchase by districts and campuses. The bill includes representatives from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Board for Educator Certification in the consortium tasked with periodically assessing statewide personnel needs in all areas of specialization related to special education and pursuing strategies to meet those needs as part of the statewide plan developed and implemented by TEA with programmatic content relating to the delivery of services to students with disabilities. The bill changes one of the objectives of procedures included in that plan from ensuring that appropriately trained personnel are involved in the diagnostic and evaluative procedures operating in all districts and that those personnel routinely serve on district admissions, review, and dismissal committees to ensuring that personnel involved in the diagnostic and evaluative procedures operating in all districts are appropriately trained, including training in linguistic and culturally appropriate evaluations, have appropriate tests available, including tests in languages other than English to the extent possible, and routinely serve on admissions, review, and dismissal committees. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.