87R3392 CXP-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 855
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a joint study and report by the Texas Education Agency
and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding the
transition of public school students with disabilities to higher
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.0114 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.0114. STUDY REGARDING TRANSITION TO HIGHER
EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) In this section,
"coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
(b) The agency and the coordinating board jointly shall
conduct a study on the transition to higher education for public
school students with disabilities.
(c) The study must investigate and identify:
(1) the percentage of students enrolled in a special
education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, who graduate high
school;
(2) the percentage of students enrolled in a special
education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, who following
high school graduation enroll in a public or private institution of
higher education;
(3) for each disability category identified by the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
et seq.):
(A) appropriate supports and services for a
student who is eligible for services based on that category of
disability to facilitate the student's transition to higher
education; and
(B) whether students eligible for services based
on that category of disability currently receive the supports and
services identified under Paragraph (A);
(4) barriers that exist for students with disabilities
to transition to higher education;
(5) whether services and accommodations for students
with disabilities who enroll in public or private institutions of
higher education are accessible; and
(6) whether students with disabilities currently
receive sufficient and accurate information regarding their civil
rights.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2022, the agency and the
coordinating board shall prepare a report detailing the results of
the study under this section and submit to the legislature the
report and any recommendations for legislative or other action.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. 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, 2021.