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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring school districts and certain facilities to |
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assist students in making the transition back to school after |
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certain prolonged placements outside of school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 25.903 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.903. ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENT TRANSITIONING BACK TO |
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SCHOOL AFTER PROLONGED PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. (a) This |
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section applies to the following facilities: |
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(1) a disciplinary alternative education program; |
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(2) a juvenile justice alternative education program; |
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(3) a residential program or facility operated by or |
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under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a |
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juvenile board, or any other governmental entity; |
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(4) any residential treatment center; and |
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(5) a public or private hospital. |
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(b) Each school district and facility listed under |
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Subsection (a) shall coordinate to assist a student enrolled in the |
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district in making the transition back to school after being in the |
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facility for a period equivalent to 30 instructional days or more |
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during the school year. The assistance provided by the district and |
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the facility must include development and implementation of a |
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personalized transition service plan for each student who has been |
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absent from school as described by this subsection. The principal |
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of the school the student attends following the absence shall |
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designate one or more appropriate school employees, including at |
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least one teacher, and an appropriate supervisor employed by the |
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facility in which the student was placed shall designate one or more |
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appropriate facility employees to coordinate in developing the |
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plan. To the greatest extent practicable, the plan must be |
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developed in consultation with the student and the student's parent |
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or person standing in parental relation to the student. To the |
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extent appropriate for a particular student, the plan must include: |
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(1) consideration of the best educational placement |
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for the student; |
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(2) provision of counseling, behavioral management |
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assistance, as available, or academic assistance by the school |
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based on the student's academic, school reentry, and career and |
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employment goals; and |
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(3) assistance concerning access to community mental |
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health or substance abuse services, as available. |
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(c) As soon as practicable after a facility listed under |
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Subsection (a) has determined the date of a student's release from |
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the facility, the facility shall give to the school district in |
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which the student intends to attend school following release |
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written notice of that date and that the facility is prepared to |
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begin coordinating with the district to develop the student's |
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personalized transition service plan under Subsection (b). This |
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subsection applies only to a student subject to compulsory |
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attendance requirements under Section 25.085. |
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(d) The agency shall give annual written notice to each |
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facility listed under Subsection (a) of the facility's duty under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies to absences from public school |
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beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |