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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to study the segregation of |
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public school students with disabilities from other public school |
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students. |
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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 29.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.028. TASK FORCE ON THE SEGREGATION OF STUDENTS WITH |
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DISABILITIES. (a) The agency shall establish a task force to study |
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the segregation of public school students with disabilities from |
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other public school students. |
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(b) The task force shall be composed of teachers, advocates, |
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parents, and other stakeholders selected by the agency. |
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(c) The agency shall designate a member of the task force to |
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serve as presiding officer. |
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(d) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same |
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manner as the initial selection. |
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(e) A member of the task force may not receive compensation |
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for service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
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actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force |
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duties. |
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(f) The task force may accept gifts and grants from any |
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source to be used to carry out a function of the task force. |
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(g) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
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of the presiding officer and at other times as determined by the |
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presiding officer. |
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(h) The task force shall: |
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(1) conduct an ongoing study of the effect of public |
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schools segregating students with disabilities from other |
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students. The study must address: |
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(A) student achievement on assessment |
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instruments adopted under Chapter 39; |
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(B) student absences from class; |
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(C) student violations of the student code of |
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conduct; and |
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(D) other factors as determined relevant by the |
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agency; and |
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(2) develop recommendations for schools to better |
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integrate students with disabilities into all school activities. |
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(i) Not less than once every two years, the task force shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the standing committees of the |
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legislature having jurisdiction over the agency a report that |
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summarizes the study conducted and recommendations developed under |
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Subsection (h). |
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(j) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force established under this section. |
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(k) The task force shall submit the first report required |
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under Subsection (i) not later than December 31, 2020. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas |
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Education Agency shall appoint members to the task force |
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established by Section 29.028, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, in the manner required by Subsection (b) of that section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |