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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the employment of a special education liaison at public |
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schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.005(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Before a child is enrolled in a special education |
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program of a school district, the district shall establish a |
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committee composed of the persons required under 20 U.S.C. Section |
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1414(d) to develop the child's individualized education program. |
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If the district employs a special education liaison under Section |
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29.029, the special education liaison shall serve as the district's |
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representative on the committee. If a committee is required to |
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include a regular education teacher, the regular education teacher |
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included must, to the extent practicable, be a teacher who is |
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responsible for implementing a portion of the child's |
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individualized education program. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.029. SPECIAL EDUCATION LIAISON. (a) From money |
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appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the |
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commissioner shall provide money to school districts to employ one |
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or more educators to serve as a special education liaison for the |
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district. |
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(b) A special education liaison employed under this section |
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shall: |
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(1) perform duties concerning individualized |
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education programs under Section 29.005, including: |
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(A) serving as an expert in the development, |
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implementation, and assessment of individualized education |
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programs for students in the district; |
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(B) serving as the representative of the |
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district, as necessary, on a committee established under Section |
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29.005 to develop an individualized education program for a student |
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enrolled at the district; |
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(C) reviewing individualized education program |
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documents for compliance with federal and state laws and related |
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procedural guidelines; |
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(D) if a change in educational setting is |
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proposed for a student with an individualized education program |
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based on the student's violation of the district's student code of |
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conduct, conducting a manifestation determination hearing in |
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accordance with 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(k) to determine whether the |
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violation was a manifestation of the student's disability; |
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(E) conducting a functional behavioral |
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assessment and implementing a behavioral intervention plan in |
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accordance with 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(k) for a student: |
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(i) if a violation described by Paragraph |
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(D) is determined to be a manifestation of the student's |
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disability; or |
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(ii) on the request of a committee |
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established under Section 29.005; and |
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(F) providing general case management for |
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students for whom an individualized education program has been |
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developed; |
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(2) communicate verbally and in writing with campus |
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administrators regarding policies and procedures necessary to |
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ensure compliance with legal and policy requirements involving |
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special education programs; |
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(3) communicate with educators, staff, and parents of |
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students at district campuses to provide guidance, mentoring, and |
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information about special education policies and procedures; |
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(4) provide guidance, mentoring, and training to |
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special education teachers and staff in the provision of special |
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education services to students in accordance with the Individuals |
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with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.); |
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(5) become familiar with the specific duties and |
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responsibilities of any providers of services that are ancillary to |
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special education services provided by the district; |
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(6) provide assistance to parents of students in |
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special education programs in making complaints or reporting |
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allegations of violations of state or federal law relating to |
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special education programs by the district; |
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(7) conduct inquiries to address concerns brought by |
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family members of students in special education programs; and |
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(8) conduct home visits as necessary to maintain |
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quality communication between district educators and staff and |
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family members of students in special education programs. |
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(c) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the commissioner of education shall provide money |
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identified as available for purposes of Section 29.029, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, to school districts and open-enrollment |
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charter schools. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after receiving money under |
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Subsection (a) of this section, a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school shall employ a person qualified to |
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serve as special education liaison. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |