By: Naishtat (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 1807
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2015;
May 13, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 21, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
to maintain an inventory of postsecondary educational programs and
services for persons with intellectual and developmental
disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0663 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0663. INVENTORY OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. (a) The board shall maintain an
inventory of all postsecondary educational programs and services
provided for persons with intellectual and developmental
disabilities by institutions of higher education.
(b) The board shall:
(1) post the inventory on the board's Internet website
in an easily identifiable and accessible location;
(2) submit the inventory to the Texas Education Agency
for inclusion in the transition and employment guide under Section
29.0112; and
(3) update the inventory at least once every two
years.
(c) At times prescribed by the board, each institution of
higher education shall report to the board all programs and
services described by Subsection (a) provided by that institution.
SECTION 2. Section 29.0112(b), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The transition and employment guide must contain
information specific to this state regarding:
(1) transition services;
(2) employment and supported employment services;
(3) social security programs;
(4) community and long-term services and support;
(5) postsecondary educational programs and services,
including the inventory maintained by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board under Section 61.0663;
(6) information sharing with health and human services
agencies and providers;
(7) guardianship and alternatives to guardianship;
(8) self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and
self-determination; and
(9) contact information for all relevant state
agencies.
SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall compile the inventory required by Section 61.0663, Education
Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2016. The
Texas Education Agency shall comply with Section 29.0112(b)(5),
Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the inventory is available.
SECTION 4. 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, 2015.
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