87R6793 MWC-F
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 1694
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a student's eligibility for special education services
  provided by a school district.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 29.002, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 29.002.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Specially designed instruction" [, "special
  services"] means:
                     (A) [(1)]  special education instruction, which
  may be provided by professional and supported by paraprofessional
  personnel in the regular classroom or in an instructional
  arrangement described by Section 48.102; [and]
                     (B) [(2)]  related services, which are
  developmental, corrective, supportive, or evaluative services, not
  instructional in nature, that may be required for the student to
  benefit from special education instruction and for implementation
  of a student's individualized education program; and
                     (C)  adaptation of the content, methodology, or
  delivery of instruction to:
                           (i)  address the unique needs of the student
  resulting from the student's disability; and 
                           (ii)  ensure the student's access to the
  required curriculum as provided by Section 28.002 to allow the
  student to meet the educational standards set by the agency.
               (2)  "Specific learning disability" means a disorder in
  one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in
  understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may
  manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak,
  read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term
  includes perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain
  dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. 
         SECTION 2.  Section 29.003(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A student is eligible to participate in a school
  district's special education program if the student:
               (1)  is not more than 21 years of age and has a visual or
  auditory impairment that prevents the student from being adequately
  or safely educated in public school without the provision of
  specially designed instruction [special services]; or
               (2)  is at least three but not more than 21 years of age
  and has one or more of the following disabilities that prevents the
  student from being adequately or safely educated in public school
  without the provision of specially designed instruction [special
  services]:
                     (A)  physical disability;
                     (B)  intellectual or developmental disability;
                     (C)  emotional disturbance;
                     (D)  specific learning disability;
                     (E)  autism;
                     (F)  speech disability; or
                     (G)  traumatic brain injury.
         SECTION 3.  Section 30.001(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The commissioner, with the approval of the State Board
  of Education, shall develop and implement a plan for the
  coordination of services to children with disabilities in each
  region served by a regional education service center. The plan must
  include procedures for:
               (1)  identifying existing public or private
  educational and related services for children with disabilities in
  each region;
               (2)  identifying and referring children with
  disabilities who cannot be appropriately served by the school
  district in which they reside to other appropriate programs;
               (3)  assisting school districts to individually or
  cooperatively develop programs to identify and provide appropriate
  services for children with disabilities;
               (4)  expanding and coordinating services provided by
  regional education service centers for children with disabilities;
  and
               (5)  providing for specially designed instruction
  [special services], including special seats, books, instructional
  media, and other supplemental supplies and services required for
  proper instruction.
         SECTION 4.  Section 30.002(g), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (g)  To facilitate implementation of this section, the
  commissioner shall develop a system to distribute from the
  foundation school fund to school districts or regional education
  service centers a special supplemental allowance for each student
  with a visual impairment and for each student with a serious visual
  disability and another medically diagnosed disability of a
  significantly limiting nature who is receiving special education
  services through any approved program. The supplemental allowance
  may be spent only for specially designed instruction [special
  services] uniquely required by the nature of the student's
  disabilities and may not be used in lieu of educational funds
  otherwise available under this code or through state or local
  appropriations.
         SECTION 5.  Section 37.146(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A complaint alleging the commission of a school offense
  must, in addition to the requirements imposed by Article 45.019,
  Code of Criminal Procedure:
               (1)  be sworn to by a person who has personal knowledge
  of the underlying facts giving rise to probable cause to believe
  that an offense has been committed; and
               (2)  be accompanied by a statement from a school
  employee stating:
                     (A)  whether the child is eligible for or receives
  specially designed instruction [special services] under Subchapter
  A, Chapter 29; and
                     (B)  the graduated sanctions, if required under
  Section 37.144, that were imposed on the child before the complaint
  was filed.
         SECTION 6.  Section 48.1021(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The advisory committee consists of the following
  members appointed by the commissioner:
               (1)  a parent of a student eligible to participate in a
  school district's special education program under Section 29.003;
               (2)  a director of a school district's special
  education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
               (3)  a teacher certified in special education;
               (4)  a diagnostician;
               (5)  a licensed specialist in school psychology;
               (6)  a provider who provides related services, as
  described by Section 29.002(1)(B) [29.002(2)];
               (7)  a superintendent of a school district;
               (8)  a member of a school district's board of trustees;
               (9)  a representative of a disability advocacy
  organization;
               (10)  a member of the special education continuing
  advisory committee under Section 29.006;
               (11)  a teacher certified in general education;
               (12)  a student eligible to participate in a school
  district's special education program under Section 29.003;
               (13)  a representative of a regional education service
  center; and
               (14)  a school district official who handles business
  and finance matters for the district.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.