| 1 | 1 | | 89R3728 MEW-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 591 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the establishment of community-based learning centers |
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| 10 | 10 | | to serve public school students. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 33.912 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 33.912. COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING CENTERS. (a) In |
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| 15 | 15 | | this section, "center" means a community-based learning center |
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| 16 | 16 | | established under Subsection (b). |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) The agency shall establish, in collaboration with |
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| 18 | 18 | | faith-based nonprofit organizations, a program for the development |
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| 19 | 19 | | and operation of community-based learning centers in various school |
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| 20 | 20 | | districts to provide students who qualify for compensatory |
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| 21 | 21 | | education, as determined by the commissioner, with access to: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) technology; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) tutoring services; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) mentoring services; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (4) social and emotional support; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (5) outdoor activities; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (6) art; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (7) sports; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (8) individually designed services and supports that |
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| 30 | 30 | | may include treatment services, personal support services, or any |
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| 31 | 31 | | other support necessary to improve academic and social outcomes for |
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| 32 | 32 | | a student, as determined by a center. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (c) The agency shall adopt minimum training and skills |
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| 34 | 34 | | requirements that each individual providing services through the |
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| 35 | 35 | | center must satisfy. |
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| 36 | 36 | | (d) From money appropriated for the purpose, the agency |
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| 37 | 37 | | shall pay the costs for developing and operating a center. The |
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| 38 | 38 | | agency shall actively seek federal grants or money to pay costs |
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| 39 | 39 | | associated with the establishment and operation of each center. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (e) The agency by rule shall establish a procedure for |
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| 41 | 41 | | distributing money to a school district or other appropriate entity |
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| 42 | 42 | | approved by the agency to establish and operate or contract for the |
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| 43 | 43 | | operation of a center. |
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| 44 | 44 | | (f) In addition to money appropriated by the legislature, |
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| 45 | 45 | | the agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source |
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| 46 | 46 | | for establishing the program. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (g) The agency may adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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| 48 | 48 | | this section, including rules regarding an application process and |
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| 49 | 49 | | eligibility criteria to develop and operate a center. |
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| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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