81R33440 EAH-F
By: Lucio, Shapiro, Van de Putte, et al. S.B. No. 100
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 100:
By: Jackson C.S.S.B. No. 100
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to professional development institutes regarding
education of students with disabilities to serve as a resource for
public school teachers and paraprofessionals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.461 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.461. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES REGARDING
EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The commissioner
shall develop and make available professional development
institutes for teachers and paraprofessionals relating to
research-based instructional services for students with
disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders.
(b) A professional development institute developed under
this section must address:
(1) disability-specific information necessary to
enable a teacher or paraprofessional to work effectively in the
classroom with students with disabilities;
(2) instructional techniques proven by scientifically
based research, as defined by Section 9101, No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), to be effective in teaching the
curriculum required under Section 28.002 to students with
disabilities; and
(3) appropriate management of behaviors related to a
student's disability that may affect the student's performance.
(c) The commissioner shall develop one or more professional
development institutes that offer applied behavior analysis
training programs provided by or supervised by a person certified
as a behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
A training program under this subsection must provide:
(1) public access to lectures and training on the
agency's Internet website and the appropriate regional education
service center's Internet website;
(2) individual consultation in the classroom with
students for at least six one-hour sessions;
(3) telephone or in-person video review for at least
three one-hour sessions; and
(4) access to the teacher's mentor through telephone
or videoconference consultation during the program.
(d) The commissioner shall develop a list of providers
approved to conduct an applied behavior analysis training program
under Subsection (c). A training program may be provided by a
regional education service center, district specialist,
university, private entity, private consultant, or other entity
that provides training.
(e) The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selection of
teachers and paraprofessionals authorized to attend a professional
development institute, including an applied behavior analysis
training program, developed under this section. The commissioner
must give priority to teachers and paraprofessionals who have a
significant level of professional contact with students with autism
spectrum disorders.
(f) From funds appropriated for the purpose, as well as
other available sources, the commissioner shall pay a stipend to
each teacher or paraprofessional who completes a professional
development institute developed under Subsection (a). The
commissioner shall determine the amount of the stipend paid under
this subsection.
(g) The commissioner shall, for each teacher or
paraprofessional who completes training in an applied behavior
analysis training program developed under Subsection (c), pay to
the provider the cost of providing the program to the teacher or
paraprofessional. The commissioner may determine a maximum amount
that may be paid to provide the program under this subsection.
(h) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
commissioner shall submit a report regarding the success of the
institutes developed under this section, including recommendations
for changes, to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the
house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative
committee with primary jurisdiction over public education.
SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. This
Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the
implementation of the Act is provided in the General Appropriations
Act of the 81st Legislature.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.