BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4716

By: Manuel

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Students who receive special education services and have an intellectual or developmental disability may benefit from local services that are available to them. H.B. 4716 seeks to ensure that these students are provided these services by requiring public school districts to refer certain students to a local intellectual and developmental disability authority.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4716 amends the Education Code to require a public school district to refer each student receiving special education services under the special education program who has or is suspected to have an intellectual or developmental disability to a local intellectual and developmental disability authority for services or public benefits, including services under a Medicaid waiver program established under the federal Social Security Act.

H.B. 4716 applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.