87R1258 MEW-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 259
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a grant program to provide
additional resources for public school students with disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.028 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.028. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) In this section, "student with a disability" means a student who
is:
(1) eligible to participate in a school district's
special education program under Section 29.003;
(2) covered by Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. Section 794); or
(3) covered by the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.).
(b) From funds appropriated for the purposes of this
section, federal funds, or any other funds available, not later
than August 1 of each year, the commissioner shall distribute money
to each school district in a manner that provides each district an
equal amount of money for each student with a disability enrolled in
the district.
(c) Funds provided to a school district under Subsection (b)
must be used by the district to establish a program under which the
district issues grants to students with disabilities enrolled in
the district. Funds received by a student under this section may
only be used to provide additional:
(1) learning resources at the student's residence; or
(2) assistance for remote or virtual learning.
(d) A school district shall adopt procedures creating an
application and selection process for grants awarded under
Subsection (c). The procedures must require the parent or legal
guardian of a student with a disability to provide a detailed
description of the proposed use of the grant money.
(e) A school district shall determine the amount of each
grant awarded under Subsection (c).
(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
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, 2021.