Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2168 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R10381 KJE-D
2	2	By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 2168
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the Texas Commission on Federal Special Education Law
10	10	and Funding.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
13	13	Subchapter M to read as follows:
14	14	SUBCHAPTER M. TEXAS COMMISSION ON FEDERAL SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND
15	15	FUNDING
16	16	Sec. 29.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
17	17	means the Texas Commission on Federal Special Education Law and
18	18	Funding.
19	19	Sec. 29.502. COMMISSION. (a) The commission is
20	20	established to study and make recommendations regarding this
21	21	state's approach to special education and compliance with the
22	22	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
23	23	et seq.).
24	24	(b) The commission is composed of seven members, appointed
25	25	as follows:
26	26	(1) one member with an interest in special education
27	27	appointed by the governor;
28	28	(2) three senators appointed by the lieutenant
29	29	governor; and
30	30	(3) three representatives appointed by the speaker of
31	31	the house of representatives.
32	32	(c) In making appointments under Subsection (b), the
33	33	governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
34	34	representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the membership of
35	35	the commission, to the extent possible, reflects the ethnic and
36	36	geographic diversity of this state.
37	37	Sec. 29.503. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
38	38	designate the presiding officer of the commission.
39	39	Sec. 29.504. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
40	40	the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
41	41	commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
42	42	necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
43	43	Sec. 29.505. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The
44	44	agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.
45	45	(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
46	46	of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation
47	47	made to the agency for that purpose.
48	48	(c) The agency:
49	49	(1) may procure goods and services to support the
50	50	commission's work, including research and consulting services; and
51	51	(2) in procuring goods and services for the commission
52	52	under Subdivision (1):
53	53	(A) is not required to comply with any
54	54	procurement law or procedure that applies to procurements by state
55	55	agencies, including Chapters 2155 and 2254, Government Code,
56	56	provided that the agency uses a procurement method that provides
57	57	the best value to the state given any applicable time constraints;
58	58	and
59	59	(B) may, but is not required to, consider the
60	60	best value standards provided by Sections 2155.074(b) and (b-1),
61	61	Government Code.
62	62	(d) The agency may not execute a contract for a good or
63	63	service for the commission unless the members of the commission
64	64	approve the contract by a majority vote.
65	65	Sec. 29.506. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The
66	66	commission shall conduct a study to:
67	67	(1) analyze the most effective statutory framework,
68	68	procedural safeguards, and practice approaches for public schools
69	69	to provide an appropriate education to students with disabilities;
70	70	(2) identify any provision of the Individuals with
71	71	Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.) that:
72	72	(A) imposes an unreasonable burden on
73	73	implementing protections and educational initiatives for students
74	74	with disabilities; and
75	75	(B) does not effectively improve outcomes for
76	76	students with disabilities; and
77	77	(3) analyze the resources provided and used for and
78	78	controlled by compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities
79	79	Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.).
80	80	(b) Based on the study under Subsection (a), the commission
81	81	shall develop recommendations for state policy to provide the most
82	82	effective supports for students with disabilities and the most
83	83	positive state and local fiscal, student, and operational impacts
84	84	if this state refused to comply with a requirement of the
85	85	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
86	86	et seq.).
87	87	Sec. 29.507. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2028, the
88	88	commission shall submit to the governor and the legislature a
89	89	report regarding the commission's recommendations under Section
90	90	29.506.
91	91	Sec. 29.508. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)
92	92	The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the
93	93	commission's duties under this subchapter.
94	94	(b) The commission is not subject to Chapter 551, Government
95	95	Code.
96	96	Sec. 29.509. EXPIRATION. The commission is abolished and
97	97	this subchapter expires January 1, 2029.
98	98	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.