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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 are or were in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 51.9356, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST |
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STUDENTS WHO ARE OR WERE [FORMERLY] IN FOSTER CARE. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and |
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(f) to read as follows: |
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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 are or were |
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formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services. To the extent allowed by state or federal law, |
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the institution shall identify those students from information |
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provided to the institution in admission or financial aid |
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applications or other available resources. |
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(c) Each semester or other academic term, an institution of |
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higher education shall provide to the institution's liaison officer |
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the names of and information regarding the students described by |
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Subsection (b). |
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(d) The liaison officer shall provide to the [those] |
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students described by Subsection (b) information regarding support |
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services and other resources available to the students at the |
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institution and any other relevant information to assist the |
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students. |
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(e) 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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(f) 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 the students described by |
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Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, each public |
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institution of higher education shall publicize the information |
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required by Section 51.9356(f), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |
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* * * * * |