86R9303 MM-F
 
  By: Guerra H.B. No. 3932
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the advisory council on postsecondary
  education for persons with intellectual and developmental
  disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.0663(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The board shall:
               (1)  post the inventory on the board's Internet website
  in an easily identifiable and accessible location;
               (2)  submit the inventory to the Texas Education Agency
  for inclusion in the transition and employment guide under Section
  29.0112; and
               (3)  update the inventory at least annually [once every
  two years].
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.06641 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.06641.  ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH
  INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; ADVISORY COUNCIL.
  (a) The board, with the assistance of the advisory council
  established under this section, shall:
               (1)  periodically review the policies and practices
  that increase access to higher education opportunities for persons
  with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and
               (2)  distribute educational outreach materials
  developed by the advisory council to increase awareness regarding
  postsecondary opportunities for persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities.
         (b)  The board shall establish an advisory council on
  postsecondary education for persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities, in accordance with Section 61.026, to
  advise the board on policies and practices to improve postsecondary
  education opportunities for persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities.
         (c)  The advisory council is composed of the following
  members appointed as follows:
               (1)  one member appointed by the executive director of
  the Texas Workforce Commission;
               (2)  one member appointed by the commissioner of the
  Texas Education Agency;
               (3)  a representative of the continuing advisory
  committee established under Section 29.006 appointed by the
  governor; and
               (4)  the following members appointed by the board:
                     (A)  a representative of a University Centers for
  Excellence in Developmental Disabilities program in this state;
                     (B)  a representative of a disability advocacy
  group;
                     (C)  a parent or guardian of a person with an
  intellectual or developmental disability;
                     (D)  a parent or guardian of a person with an
  intellectual or developmental disability who is currently enrolled
  in an institution of higher education;
                     (E)  a person with an intellectual or
  developmental disability enrolled in an institution of higher
  education;
                     (F)  a person with an intellectual or
  developmental disability who has completed a program at an
  institution of higher education;
                     (G)  a high school counselor;
                     (H)  a specialist in the transition to employment
  from a regional education service center, school district, or other
  state agency; and
                     (I)  additional representatives with relevant
  experience, as needed.
         (d)  Members of the advisory council serve two-year terms.
         (e)  A member of the advisory council is not entitled to
  compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
  necessary expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
  business of the advisory council.
         (f)  The members of the advisory council shall elect a
  presiding officer from among the membership.
         (g)  The advisory council shall:
               (1)  study the accessibility of higher education for
  persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
               (2)  provide advice regarding resolving barriers to
  accessing higher education for persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities; and
               (3)  identify, evaluate, and develop recommendations
  to address barriers to accessing higher education for persons with
  intellectual and developmental disabilities who are or have been in
  the foster care system and any data collection issues in relation to
  those persons.
         (h)  The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly at
  the call of the presiding officer.
         (i)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
  other law, the advisory council may meet by telephone conference
  call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method.
  A meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or
  other similar telecommunication method is subject to the
  requirements of Sections 551.125(c)-(f), Government Code.
         (j)  The advisory council shall submit a report to the board
  annually, at a time determined by the board. The report must
  include information regarding:
               (1)  the advisory council's activities;
               (2)  any relevant rule changes necessary to decrease
  barriers to accessing higher education for persons with
  intellectual and developmental disabilities; and
               (3)  recommendations for potential outreach and
  education materials to increase public awareness of the
  availability of higher education opportunities and resources for
  persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
  including information regarding available grants, loan programs,
  and other resources that may require statewide outreach efforts.
         (k)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the advisory council shall provide a report to the board and to the
  governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, the members of the legislature, and, as necessary,
  other state agencies or relevant stakeholders. The report must
  include:
               (1)  historic and current higher education data and
  related information regarding persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities, including:
                     (A)  graduation rates;
                     (B)  the geographic distribution of institutions
  of higher education providing appropriate opportunities;
                     (C)  a description of available programs; and
                     (D)  any other relevant data; and
               (2)  recommendations for changes to support success and
  achievement for persons with intellectual and developmental
  disabilities in accessing higher education, including
  recommendations for:
                     (A)  addressing gaps in data; and
                     (B)  identifying problems with and barriers to
  accessing higher education.
         (l)  The board shall provide administrative support for the
  advisory council.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2020, the
  appropriate appointing authorities shall appoint the members to the
  advisory council on postsecondary education for persons with
  intellectual and developmental disabilities as required by Section
  61.06641, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2020, the advisory council on
  postsecondary education for persons with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities shall complete the initial reports
  required under Sections 61.06641(j) and (k), Education Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.