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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the coordination of, communication of best practices |
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concerning, and collection of information pertaining to the |
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provision of evidence-based behavioral services for students with |
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autism spectrum disorder in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter P to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER P. AUTISM SERVICES |
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Sec. 61.781. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "autism |
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program" means: |
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(1) a public entity that provides evidence-based |
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behavioral services, including applied behavior analysis services |
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for children with autism spectrum disorder; and |
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(2) an autism research center at a public or private |
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institution of higher education that provides evidence-based |
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behavioral services, including applied behavior analysis services |
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for children with autism spectrum disorder, under a grant contract |
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with the board. |
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Sec. 61.782. COORDINATION OF SERVICES; COMMUNICATION ON |
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BEST PRACTICES. (a) The board shall ensure communication and |
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coordination among the board, autism programs, school districts, |
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the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and other |
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state agencies providing evidence-based behavioral services to |
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children with autism spectrum disorder in this state regarding best |
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practices for delivering those services. |
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(b) An autism program, a school district, the Department of |
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Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, or another state agency that |
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provides evidence-based behavioral services to children with |
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autism spectrum disorder in this state shall comply with a request |
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for information concerning the provision of those services made by |
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the board for the purpose of complying with this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.783. STATEWIDE AUTISM DATABASE; REPORT. (a) The |
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board shall maintain a statewide autism database of information |
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regarding the number of children served through each autism program |
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and through each state agency providing evidence-based behavioral |
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services to children with autism spectrum disorder in this state, |
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the effectiveness of those programs and services, statewide best |
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practices for the delivery of those programs and services, and the |
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identification of underserved regions of the state with regard to |
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those programs and services. |
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(b) Annually, the board shall submit to the legislature a |
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report on the information maintained in the database. |
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(c) The board may not include in the database personal |
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information of any kind pertaining to a child receiving services |
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from an autism program or a state agency or pertaining to the |
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child's family. |
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(d) The board shall make the database readily accessible |
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online. |
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Sec. 61.784. RULES. The board shall adopt rules as |
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necessary for the administration of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. SELECT COMMITTEES ON AUTISM SERVICES. (a) Not |
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later than November 30, 2015: |
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(1) the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint to a House Select Committee on Statewide Coordination of |
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Autism Services seven members with one member designated as chair; |
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and |
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(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint to a Senate |
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Select Committee on Statewide Coordination of Autism Services five |
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members with one member designated as chair. |
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(b) The committees established under this section may meet |
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separately at the call of the chair of the committee or jointly at |
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the call of both chairs. In joint meetings, the chairs shall act as |
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joint chairs. |
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(c) The committees established under this section, meeting |
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separately or jointly, shall review, study, and evaluate: |
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(1) autism service programs in other states; |
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(2) university programs in this state that provide |
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autism treatment and services; |
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(3) community agencies and organizations that provide |
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applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services; |
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(4) ways to improve communication and coordination |
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among entities providing autism services across the state; |
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(5) areas of the state that are most underserved with |
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regard to autism services; and |
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(6) ways to provide autism services to more children. |
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(d) Following consideration of the factors described by |
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Subsection (c) of this section, the committees established under |
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this section shall jointly adopt recommendations related to the |
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reviewed topics and shall provide a written report to the |
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legislature of the committees' recommendations for legislative or |
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other action not later than January 13, 2017. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |