By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2077
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures
  Program to support educational and occupational skills training
  opportunities and support services for students with intellectual
  and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions
  of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter 00 to read as follows:
               SUBCHAPTER 00. BUILDING BETTER FUTURES PROGRAM 
         Sec. 61.9971.  PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the Building
  Better Futures Program is to facilitate the delivery by
  institutions of higher education and private or independent
  institutions of higher education of educational and occupational
  skills training opportunities and support services to students with
  intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive and
  age-appropriate environment. 
         Sec. 61.9972.  ADMINISTRATION; RULES.  (a)  The board shall
  administer the Building Better Futures Program and adopt any rules
  necessary to implement the program or this subchapter. 
         (b)  The board may develop a competitive application process
  for the award of funds to eligible institutions under the program. 
         (c)  A program or course offered under the Building Better
  Futures Program is exempt from the requirements of Sections 61.0512
  and 61.822. 
         Sec. 61.9973.  INSTITUTION ELIGIBILITY.  (a) To be eligible
  to participate in the Building Better Futures Program, an
  institution of higher education or private or independent
  institution of higher education: 
               (1)  must: 
                     (A)  be approved by or awaiting approval from the
  United States Department of Education to offer a comprehensive
  transition and postsecondary program for students with
  intellectual or developmental disabilities; 
                     (B)  develop and implement a selective admissions
  process to select eligible students under Section 61.9974 for
  admission to the institution's comprehensive transition and
  postsecondary program; and 
                     (C)  award a certificate to each student who
  successfully completes the Building Better Futures Program at the
  institution; and 
         (2)  may not allow credit hours completed under the Building
  Better Futures Program to be transferred toward an associate or
  baccalaureate degree program. 
         (b)  The board shall establish criteria to ensure that each
  eligible institution that has requested but not yet received
  approval from the United States Department of Education for the
  institution's comprehensive transition and postsecondary program
  obtains that approval not later than the third anniversary of the
  date the institution is initially selected by the board for
  participation in the Building Better Futures Program. 
         Sec. 61.9974.  STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  To be eligible to
  participate in the Building Better Futures Program, an applicant
  must: 
               (1)  apply for admission to a comprehensive transition
  and postsecondary program, or a program that is awaiting approval
  from the United States Department of Education as a comprehensive
  transition and postsecondary program, at an eligible institution; 
               (2)  be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
  United States; 
               (3)  be a resident of this state under Section 54.052,
  except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section; 
               (4)  have an intellectual or developmental disability
  diagnosed by a physician, psychologist, or other individual
  qualified by license or statute to make such a diagnosis; 
               (5)  be able and willing to learn and participate in an
  inclusive classroom and work setting; and 
               (6)  not be a danger to the applicant's self or others, 
  as determined by the accepting institution. 
         (b)  An applicant who is a lawful permanent resident of the
  United States must submit with the applicant's application a copy
  of the applicant's lawful permanent resident form. 
         (c)  An eligible institution may require an applicant or the
  applicant's parent or guardian to provide proof of residency as
  evidenced by one of the following: 
               (1)  information from the Free Application for Federal
  Student Aid; 
               (2)  a driver's license issued by the Department of
  Public Safety that has not expired; 
               (3)  documentation of payment for personal or real
  property taxes for the previous year; 
               (4)  vehicle registration issued by the Texas
  Department of Motor Vehicles that has not expired; 
               (5)  a voter registration certificate issued in this
  state that has not expired; or 
               (6)  documentation under Section 54.053. 
         (d)  An applicant who is not a resident of this state may be
  eligible to participate in the Building Better Futures Program at
  an eligible institution only if an opening is available after all
  resident applicants are admitted. 
         Sec. 61.9975.  AWARD OF FUNDS.  The board may award funds
  under the Building Better Futures Program only to eligible
  institutions to be used by the institutions to facilitate the
  delivery of educational and occupational skills training
  opportunities and support services to students participating in the
  program. 
         Sec. 61.9976.  FUNDING.  The board may use any available
  revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may solicit and
  accept gifts, grants, and donations from a public or private source
  for the purposes of this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter 00, Chapter 61,
  Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
  the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2023.