Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB38 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R1773 GRM-D
2	2	By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 38
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to creation of an employment-first task force advisory
8	8	committee.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 531.02449 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 531.02449. EMPLOYMENT-FIRST TASK FORCE ADVISORY
13	13	COMMITTEE. (a) In this section:
14	14	(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
15	15	assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
16	16	(2) "Task force" means the interagency
17	17	employment-first task force established under Section 531.02448.
18	18	(b) The task force shall establish an advisory committee to
19	19	make recommendations for increasing and expanding postsecondary
20	20	educational opportunities and access for individuals with
21	21	intellectual or developmental disabilities.
22	22	(c) The presiding officer of the task force, after
23	23	consulting with the task force, shall name the members of the
24	24	advisory committee. The advisory committee:
25	25	(1) may not:
26	26	(A) consist of more than 11 members; or
27	27	(B) include members of the task force; and
28	28	(2) must at least include the following members:
29	29	(A) an individual with an intellectual or
30	30	developmental disability;
31	31	(B) a family member of an individual with an
32	32	intellectual or developmental disability;
33	33	(C) an advocate for individuals with
34	34	intellectual or developmental disabilities;
35	35	(D) a representative of the Texas Council for
36	36	Developmental Disabilities;
37	37	(E) a representative of the Department of
38	38	Assistive and Rehabilitative Services;
39	39	(F) a representative of the Department of Aging
40	40	and Disability Services;
41	41	(G) a representative of the Texas Higher
42	42	Education Coordinating Board;
43	43	(H) a representative of the Texas Workforce
44	44	Commission;
45	45	(I) a representative of the Texas Education
46	46	Agency; and
47	47	(J) a representative of an institution of higher
48	48	education.
49	49	(d) A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of
50	50	the task force.
51	51	(e) The advisory committee shall elect a presiding officer
52	52	of the committee.
53	53	(f) The advisory committee established under this section
54	54	shall:
55	55	(1) set appropriate outcomes and goals;
56	56	(2) survey institutions of higher education for:
57	57	(A) programs that serve individuals with
58	58	intellectual or developmental disabilities; and
59	59	(B) plans to provide or interest in providing
60	60	those programs;
61	61	(3) research existing programs in and model programs
62	62	outside this state;
63	63	(4) propose expansion options for existing programs or
64	64	the implementation of new programs, including potential funding
65	65	options for those programs;
66	66	(5) determine regional deficiencies;
67	67	(6) leverage existing private and nonprofit efforts
68	68	and partnerships;
69	69	(7) periodically make recommendations to the Texas
70	70	Higher Education Coordinating Board and institutions of higher
71	71	education regarding action the entities should take to increase
72	72	postsecondary opportunities and access for individuals with
73	73	intellectual or developmental disabilities; and
74	74	(8) make recommendations on legislative policy
75	75	changes affecting postsecondary education for individuals with
76	76	intellectual or developmental disabilities.
77	77	(g) Not later than September 1, 2016, the advisory committee
78	78	shall prepare and submit to the office of the governor, the
79	79	legislature, and the executive commissioner a report regarding the
80	80	committee's findings and recommendations.
81	81	(h) A member of the advisory committee established under
82	82	this section is not entitled to compensation. Members may be
83	83	reimbursed for expenses as follows:
84	84	(1) a member described by Subsection (c)(2)(A), (B),
85	85	or (C) is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary
86	86	expenses as provided in the General Appropriations Act; and
87	87	(2) a member appointed as a representative of a state
88	88	agency is eligible for reimbursement for travel and other necessary
89	89	expenses according to the applicable agency's policies.
90	90	(i) The commission and the health and human services
91	91	agencies shall provide administrative support and staff to the
92	92	advisory committee established under this section.
93	93	(j) This section expires September 1, 2017.
94	94	SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the presiding
95	95	officer of the employment-first task force shall appoint the
96	96	members of the advisory committee under Section 531.02449,
97	97	Government Code, as added by this Act.
98	98	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
99	99	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
100	100	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
101	101	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
102	102	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.