By: Shapiro S.B. No. 987
(In the Senate - Filed February 19, 2009; March 9, 2009,
read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
March 13, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; March 13, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the age at which transition planning begins for a public
school student receiving special education services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.011, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 29.011. TRANSITION PLANNING. The commissioner shall
by rule adopt procedures for compliance with federal requirements
relating to transition services for students who are enrolled in
special education programs under this subchapter. The procedures
must:
(1) provide that transition planning begins for a
student not later than when the student reaches 14 years of age; and
(2) specify the manner in which a student's admission,
review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate,
address the following issues in the student's individualized
education program:
(A) [(1)] appropriate student involvement in the
student's transition to life outside the public school system;
(B) [(2)] if the student is younger than 18 years
of age, appropriate parental involvement in the student's
transition;
(C) [(3)] if the student is at least 18 years of
age, appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition,
if the parent is invited to participate by the student or the school
district in which the student is enrolled;
(D) [(4)] any postsecondary education options;
(E) [(5)] a functional vocational evaluation;
(F) [(6)] employment goals and objectives;
(G) [(7)] if the student is at least 18 years of
age, the availability of age-appropriate instructional
environments;
(H) [(8)] independent living goals and
objectives; and
(I) [(9)] appropriate circumstances for
referring a student or the student's parents to a governmental
agency for services.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
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, 2009.
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