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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and pilot program on the identification of and |
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interventions provided to children with dyslexia who are committed |
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to juvenile facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this Act: |
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(1) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency. |
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(2) "Department" means the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department. |
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(3) "Juvenile facility" means a facility operated by |
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or under contract with the department. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with the agency, shall |
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conduct a five-year study on the identification of dyslexia in |
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children committed to the custody of the department. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the department and agency |
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shall: |
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(1) assess current procedures for dyslexia screening |
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and identification in juvenile facilities; |
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(2) consider improvements in the procedures for |
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dyslexia screening and identification in juvenile facilities; |
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(3) collect and analyze data, disaggregated by age, |
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sex, and race, on the prevalence of dyslexia among children |
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committed to juvenile facilities; |
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(4) evaluate access to educational resources and |
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interventions provided to children committed to juvenile |
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facilities who have been identified as having dyslexia; |
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(5) identify barriers to effective dyslexia |
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screening, diagnosis, and intervention in juvenile facilities; |
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(6) consider and develop innovative screening |
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techniques to supplement initial intake screenings, including: |
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(A) telehealth assessments conducted by a |
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licensed health care provider with expertise in dyslexia diagnoses |
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or by an educational diagnostician; |
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(B) consultations with an expert in dyslexia |
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research from a university, medical institution, or nonprofit |
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organization; and |
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(C) advanced screening tools or additional |
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testing methods; |
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(7) develop a plan to improve dyslexia screening, |
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intervention, and support services in juvenile facilities; and |
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(8) develop a training program to improve dyslexia |
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identification and intervention efforts, to be provided to: |
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(A) juvenile facility staff responsible for |
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conducting dyslexia screenings; and |
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(B) educators who work with children committed to |
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juvenile facilities. |
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(d) The department, in collaboration with the agency, shall |
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establish and implement a pilot program to implement improved |
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dyslexia screening techniques and protocols developed under the |
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study described by Subsection (c) of this section. |
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(e) In establishing and implementing the pilot program, the |
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department, in collaboration with the agency, shall: |
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(1) designate not less than two juvenile facilities at |
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which to operate the pilot program; |
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(2) implement the innovative screening techniques |
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developed under Subsection (c)(6) of this section; |
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(3) provide targeted interventions for children with |
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dyslexia, as identified through the techniques implemented under |
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Subdivision (2) of this subsection; and |
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(4) annually evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot |
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program and determine best practices to integrate comparable |
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policies in additional juvenile facilities. |
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(f) The department shall annually prepare and submit to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and standing committee of each house of the |
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legislature with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice or |
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education matters a report that must include the following |
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information: |
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(1) the number of children committed to juvenile |
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facilities who are identified as having dyslexia; |
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(2) the percentage of children committed to juvenile |
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facilities who are identified as having dyslexia; |
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(3) the screening tools and assessment methods used to |
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identify dyslexia, including whether and which innovative |
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screening techniques developed under Subsection (c)(6) of this |
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section were used; |
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(4) the availability and effectiveness of educational |
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resources and interventions provided to children committed to |
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juvenile facilities who have been identified as having dyslexia; |
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and |
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(5) an evaluation of the pilot program, including data |
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on improved identification rates and intervention outcomes. |
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(g) In conducting the study under Subsection (b) of this |
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section or implementing the pilot program under Subsection (d) of |
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this section, the department may: |
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(1) apply for grants and federal funding; |
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(2) receive money appropriated by the legislature; or |
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(3) partner with a university, medical institution, or |
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nonprofit organization. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department shall establish and implement the pilot |
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program described by Section 1(d) of this Act. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2030, the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department shall submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing |
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committee of each house of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over juvenile justice or education matters the final |
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report regarding the results of the study conducted under Section |
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1(b) of this Act and the pilot program implemented under Section |
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1(d) of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |