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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to fund innovative programs for public |
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school students with autism. |
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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 29.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.026. GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS |
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WITH AUTISM. (a) The commissioner shall establish a program to |
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award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter |
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schools that provide innovative services to students with autism. |
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To participate in the program, a student must be at least three |
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years of age but younger than nine years of age. |
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(b) A school district, including a school district acting |
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through a district charter issued under Subchapter C, Chapter 12, |
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and an open-enrollment charter school, including a charter school |
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that primarily serves students with disabilities, as provided under |
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Section 12.1014, may apply for a grant under this section. |
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(c) A program is eligible for a grant under this section if: |
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(1) the program operates as a separate campus from the |
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campus in which the program is located, with a separate budget and |
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principal; |
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(2) the program incorporates: |
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(A) evidence-based and research-based design; |
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(B) the use of empirical data on student |
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achievement and improvement; |
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(C) parental support and collaboration; |
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(D) the use of technology; |
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(E) meaningful inclusion; and |
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(F) the ability to replicate the program for |
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students statewide; and |
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(3) the program gives priority for enrollment to |
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students with autism. |
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(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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not: |
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(1) charge a fee for the program, other than those |
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authorized by law for students in public schools; |
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(2) require a parent to participate in the program; or |
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(3) allow an admission, review, and dismissal |
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committee to place a student in the program without the consent of |
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the student's parent or guardian. |
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(e) A program under this section may: |
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(1) alter the length of the school day or school year |
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or the number of minutes of instruction received by students; |
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(2) coordinate services with private or |
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community-based providers; |
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(3) allow the enrollment of students without |
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disabilities or with other disabilities, if approved by the |
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commissioner; and |
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(4) adopt staff qualifications and staff to student |
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ratios that differ from the applicable requirements of this title. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules creating an |
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application and selection process for grants awarded under this |
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section. |
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(g) The commissioner shall create an external panel of |
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stakeholders, including parents of students with disabilities, to |
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provide assistance in the selection of applications for the award |
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of grants under this section. |
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(h) The commissioner shall award grants to fund not more |
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than 10 programs that meet the eligibility criteria under |
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Subsection (c). In selecting programs, the commissioner shall |
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prioritize programs that are a collaboration between multiple |
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school districts and charter schools. The selected programs must |
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reflect the geographic diversity of this state. |
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(i) The commissioner shall select programs and award grant |
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funds to those programs beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. The |
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selected programs are to be funded for five years. |
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(j) A grant awarded to a school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school under this section is in addition to the foundation |
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school program funds that the district or charter school is |
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otherwise entitled to receive. |
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(k) The commissioner shall set aside an amount not exceeding |
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$20 million from the total amount of funds appropriated to the |
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foundation school program for the 2018-2019 fiscal biennium to fund |
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grants under this section. The commissioner shall use $10 million |
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for the purposes of this section for each school year in the state |
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fiscal biennium. A grant recipient may not receive more than $1 |
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million for the 2018-2019 fiscal biennium. The commissioner shall |
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reduce each district's and charter school's allotment |
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proportionally to account for funds allocated under this section. |
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(l) The commissioner and any program selected under this |
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section may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or |
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private source to implement and administer the program. |
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(m) The commissioner may consider a student with autism who |
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is enrolled in a program funded under this section as funded in a |
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mainstream placement, regardless of the amount of time the student |
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receives services in a regular classroom setting. |
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(n) Not later than December 31, 2021, the commissioner shall |
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publish a report on the grant program established under this |
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section. The report must include: |
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(1) recommendations for statutory or funding changes |
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necessary to implement successful innovations in the education of |
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students with autism; and |
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(2) data on the academic and functional achievements |
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of students enrolled in a program that received a grant under this |
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section. |
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(o) This section expires September 1, 2024. |
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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, 2017. |