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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility for participation in University |
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Interscholastic League activities of public school students who |
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reside in an inpatient mental health facility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.0832 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0832. PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC |
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LEAGUE ACTIVITIES BY STUDENTS IN INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH |
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FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "inpatient mental health |
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facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 571.003, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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(b) The University Interscholastic League shall ensure that |
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league rules do not exclude from eligibility for participation in a |
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league activity a student who resides in an inpatient mental health |
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facility and receives public education under an agreement with a |
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school district or open-enrollment charter school under Section |
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29.012. |
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(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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not adopt or enforce policies that restrict participation in |
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University Interscholastic League activities by a student who |
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resides in an inpatient mental health facility and receives |
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education services from the district or school under an agreement |
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under Section 29.012. |
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(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules ensuring that a |
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student who resides in an inpatient mental health facility has |
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reasonable opportunities to participate in University |
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Interscholastic League activities. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the University Interscholastic League shall |
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propose or amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 33.0832, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act; |
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(2) a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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school shall propose or amend policies as necessary to comply with |
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Section 33.0832, Education Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(3) the commissioner of education shall approve any |
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rules proposed under Section 33.0832(b), Education Code, as added |
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by this Act, and adopt all necessary rules under Subsection (d) of |
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that section. |
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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, 2021. |