| 1 | 1 | | 81R10501 CAS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Madden H.B. No. 3229 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a pilot project for a drug and alcohol abuse recovery |
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| 8 | 8 | | high school program. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 29.921 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 29.921. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOL |
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| 13 | 13 | | PILOT PROJECT. (a) The agency shall develop a pilot project for |
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| 14 | 14 | | the establishment and operation of one or more high school programs |
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| 15 | 15 | | designed to assist students who have completed a drug or alcohol |
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| 16 | 16 | | abuse treatment program in returning to school and earning a high |
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| 17 | 17 | | school diploma. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) A high school program established and operated under |
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| 19 | 19 | | this section must provide for: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) individualized instruction for students and a low |
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| 21 | 21 | | ratio of students to teachers; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) provision of the courses, including dual credit |
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| 23 | 23 | | courses, instruction, and assistance necessary for students to |
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| 24 | 24 | | earn the credits required for high school graduation as required |
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| 25 | 25 | | under Section 28.025; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (3) varied methods of instruction, including |
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| 27 | 27 | | traditional classroom and textbook instruction, self-paced |
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| 28 | 28 | | instruction, and distance learning; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) accelerated timelines for advancement between |
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| 30 | 30 | | courses; |
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| 31 | 31 | | (5) assistance with the transition from the treatment |
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| 32 | 32 | | program back to school, including counseling that meets the social |
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| 33 | 33 | | and emotional needs of students and help through peer support |
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| 34 | 34 | | groups; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (6) clear rules of behavior established under an |
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| 36 | 36 | | agreement signed by a program representative, the student, and the |
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| 37 | 37 | | student's parent that: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (A) provides expectations concerning attendance, |
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| 39 | 39 | | achievement, clothing, and Internet use; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (B) requires periodic testing for and prohibits |
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| 41 | 41 | | student drug and alcoholic beverage use; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (C) prohibits smoking on campus; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (7) required participation in community service |
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| 44 | 44 | | projects; and |
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| 45 | 45 | | (8) establishment of goals by students and procedures |
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| 46 | 46 | | to measure students' accomplishment of those goals. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (c) A high school program established and operated under |
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| 48 | 48 | | this section must establish an application form and a procedure for |
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| 49 | 49 | | admission to the program that, among any other requirements, |
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| 50 | 50 | | requires an applicant for admission to: |
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| 51 | 51 | | (1) apply in writing in the time and manner required by |
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| 52 | 52 | | the program; |
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| 53 | 53 | | (2) interview in person with program representatives; |
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| 54 | 54 | | (3) submit an essay written while visiting the program |
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| 55 | 55 | | site; |
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| 56 | 56 | | (4) submit with the application: |
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| 57 | 57 | | (A) proof in the form required by the program |
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| 58 | 58 | | that the student has completed a drug or alcohol abuse treatment |
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| 59 | 59 | | program approved by the high school program; |
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| 60 | 60 | | (B) the student's transcript and other records |
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| 61 | 61 | | from each school the student has previously attended, including any |
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| 62 | 62 | | results from standardized or state-administered assessment |
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| 63 | 63 | | instruments, disciplinary records, and attendance reports; and |
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| 64 | 64 | | (C) written authorization for program |
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| 65 | 65 | | representatives to obtain specific confidential records of the |
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| 66 | 66 | | student; and |
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| 67 | 67 | | (5) be assessed by drug and alcohol counseling |
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| 68 | 68 | | professionals. |
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| 69 | 69 | | (d) As part of the pilot project, the agency shall develop: |
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| 70 | 70 | | (1) written information for students, parents, |
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| 71 | 71 | | educators, and drug and alcohol abuse treatment centers concerning |
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| 72 | 72 | | the program; and |
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| 73 | 73 | | (2) training for program personnel concerning drug and |
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| 74 | 74 | | alcohol abuse issues, including treatment for drug and alcohol |
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| 75 | 75 | | abuse. |
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| 76 | 76 | | (e) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and |
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| 77 | 77 | | donations for developing the pilot project and for a high school |
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| 78 | 78 | | program established and operated as part of the pilot project. |
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| 79 | 79 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 80 | 80 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 81 | 81 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 82 | 82 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 83 | 83 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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