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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of a special education services matrix. |
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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 29.0012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.0012. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES MATRIX. (a) The |
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commissioner shall develop and periodically update materials for |
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use in evaluating the special education services provided to a |
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student under this subchapter, including: |
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(1) a special education services matrix that: |
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(A) identifies categories for special education |
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services; |
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(B) assigns intensity levels for the services in |
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each category; and |
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(C) produces an aggregate score to assign to each |
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student enrolled in a special education program under this |
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subchapter based on the intensity level of services the student |
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requires across the categories; and |
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(2) a handbook for using the special education |
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services matrix to assist school districts in determining the |
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nature and intensity levels of the special education services |
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provided to a student under this subchapter. |
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(b) In developing the materials under Subsection (a), the |
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commissioner shall: |
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(1) review and adapt, as appropriate, special |
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education services matrixes used by other states; and |
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(2) consult with stakeholders, including: |
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(A) public school finance experts; |
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(B) directors of school district special |
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education programs; |
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(C) superintendents of school districts; |
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(D) public school campus administrators; |
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(E) teachers certified in special education; |
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(F) teachers certified in general education; |
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(G) providers of special services that are |
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described as "related services" under Section 29.002(2); |
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(H) representatives of advocacy organizations |
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with an interest in special education; |
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(I) parents of students receiving special |
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education services under this subchapter; and |
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(J) any other person or organization the |
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commissioner considers appropriate. |
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(c) The commissioner of education shall develop a proposal |
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for a method of funding for special education services based on the |
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special education matrix developed under Subsection (a). The |
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proposal must include: |
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(1) recommendations to the legislature for changes to |
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the public school finance system necessary to transition the |
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financing of special education services provided by school |
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districts from the special education allotment under Section 49.102 |
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to an allotment based on the nature and intensity levels of the |
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special education services provided by districts; and |
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(2) a transition plan for implementing the |
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recommendations under Subdivision (1), including a recommended |
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timeline for implementation. |
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(d) The commissioner shall confer with the Legislative |
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Budget Board to develop the proposal under Subsection (c). |
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(e) Not later than September 1, 2022, the commissioner shall |
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submit written or electronic copies of the materials developed |
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under Subsections (a) and (c) to the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the |
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standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over |
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public education, and shall provide revised materials as soon as |
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practicable after each periodic update of the materials. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |