| 3 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | Coordinating Board regarding best practices for assisting students |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | with autism spectrum disorder. |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | amended by adding Section 61.06694 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | Sec. 61.06694. STUDY AND REPORT ON ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. (a) The board shall conduct a study to |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | determine best practices for assisting students with autism |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | spectrum disorder who are enrolled at institutions of higher |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | education. |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | (b) The study must: |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | (1) identify and track: |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | (A) the number of students with autism spectrum |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | disorder who graduate from secondary schools in this state; |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | (B) the number of students with autism spectrum |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | disorder who are enrolled at institutions of higher education; |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | (C) the student financial assistance available |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | to students with autism spectrum disorder who enroll at |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | institutions of higher education; and |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | (D) the graduation rates of students with autism |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | spectrum disorder who enroll at institutions of higher education; |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | and |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | (2) identify and examine best practices and program |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | modules from public and private institutions of higher education |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | outside this state that have achieved successful results in working |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | with students with autism spectrum disorder. |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | (c) In conducting the study, the board shall collaborate |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | with school districts that offer specialized programs for students |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | with autism spectrum disorder to determine how those programs could |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | be replicated at or extended to postsecondary institutions. |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | (d) Not later than December 1, 2021, the board shall submit |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | of representatives, and the commissioner of education a written |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | for legislative or other action. |
|---|
| 43 | 45 | | (e) This section expires January 1, 2022. |
|---|
| 44 | 46 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 45 | 47 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 46 | 48 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 47 | 49 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 48 | 50 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|---|