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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to services provided for students at public institutions |
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of higher education who were formerly in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST |
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STUDENTS FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services. |
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(2) "Institution [, "institution] of higher |
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education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at |
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least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer |
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for current and incoming students at the institution who were |
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formerly in the conservatorship of the department [Department of
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Family and Protective Services]. |
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(c) The liaison officer shall: |
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(1) obtain at least annually the names of and |
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information regarding current and incoming students at the |
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institution of higher education who were formerly in the |
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conservatorship of the department; and |
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(2) provide to those students information regarding |
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support services and other resources available to the students at |
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the institution and any other relevant information to assist the |
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students. |
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(d) The liaison officer may participate in any training that |
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enables the officer to carry out the officer's duties and |
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coordinate with liaison officers at other educational |
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institutions. |
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(e) Each institution of higher education shall publicize, |
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including through the institution's Internet website, social |
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media, electronic mail, or other means of communication used by the |
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institution: |
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(1) the name of and contact information for the |
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institution's liaison officer; and |
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(2) information regarding support services and other |
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resources available at the institution to students who were |
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formerly in the conservatorship of the department. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, each institution |
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of higher education shall publicize the information required by |
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Section 51.9356(e), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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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, 2019. |