83R1584 EAH-F
	By: Rodriguez of Travis	H.B. No. 617

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to transition and employment services for public school
	students enrolled in special education programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 29.011, Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 29.011.  TRANSITION PLANNING. (a)  The commissioner
	shall by rule adopt procedures for compliance with federal
	requirements relating to transition services for students who are
	enrolled in special education programs under this subchapter. The
	procedures must specify the manner in which a student's admission,
	review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate,
	address the following issues in the student's individualized
	education program:
	(1)  appropriate student involvement in the student's
	transition to life outside the public school system;
	(2)  if the student is younger than 18 years of age,
	appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition;
	(3)  if the student is at least 18 years of age,
	appropriate parental involvement in the student's transition, if
	the parent is invited to participate by the student or the school
	district in which the student is enrolled;
	(4)  any postsecondary education options;
	(5)  a functional vocational evaluation;
	(6)  employment goals and objectives;
	(7)  if the student is at least 18 years of age, the
	availability of age-appropriate instructional environments;
	(8)  independent living goals and objectives; and
	(9)  appropriate circumstances for referring a student
	or the student's parents to a governmental agency for services.
	(b)  The commissioner shall require each school district or
	shared services arrangement to designate at least one employee to
	serve as the district's or shared services arrangement's designee
	on transition and employment services for students enrolled in
	special education programs under this subchapter.  The commissioner
	shall develop minimum training guidelines for a district's or
	shared services arrangement's designee.  An individual designated
	under this subsection must provide information and resources about
	effective transition planning and services and interagency
	coordination to ensure that local school staff communicate and
	collaborate with:
	(1)  students enrolled in special education programs
	under this subchapter and the parents of those students; and
	(2)  as appropriate, local and regional staff of the:
	(A)  Health and Human Services Commission;
	(B)  Department of Aging and Disability Services;
	(C)  Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
	Services;
	(D)  Department of State Health Services; and
	(E)  Department of Family and Protective
	Services.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 29.0112 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.0112.  TRANSITION AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDE. (a) The
	agency, with assistance from the Health and Human Services
	Commission, shall develop a transition and employment guide for
	students enrolled in special education programs and their parents
	to provide information on statewide services and programs that
	assist in the transition to life outside the public school system.
	The agency may contract with a private entity to prepare the guide.
	(b)  The transition and employment guide must contain
	information specific to this state regarding:
	(1)  transition services;
	(2)  employment and supported employment services;
	(3)  social security programs;
	(4)  community and long-term services and support;
	(5)  postsecondary educational programs and services;
	(6)  information sharing with health and human services
	agencies and providers;
	(7)  guardianship and alternatives to guardianship;
	(8)  self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and
	self-determination; and
	(9)  contact information for all relevant state
	agencies.
	(c)  The transition and employment guide must be produced in
	an electronic format and posted on the agency's website in a manner
	that permits the guide to be easily identified and accessed.
	(d)  The agency must update the transition and employment
	guide posted on the agency's website at least once every two years.
	(e)  A school district shall:
	(1)  post the transition and employment guide on the
	district's website if the district maintains a website; and
	(2)  provide written information and, if necessary,
	assistance to a parent regarding how to access the electronic
	version of the guide at:
	(A)  the first meeting of the student's admission,
	review, and dismissal committee at which transition is discussed;
	or
	(B)  the first committee meeting that occurs after
	the date the guide becomes available, if a student has already had
	an admission, review, and dismissal committee meeting discussing
	transition.
	SECTION 3.  The Texas Education Agency, with assistance from
	the Health and Human Services Commission, shall complete
	development of the guide required by Section 29.0112, Education
	Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2014. A
	school district shall comply with Section 29.0112(e), Education
	Code, as added by this Act, beginning on the date the guide is
	available.
	SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
	Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.
	SECTION 5.  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, 2013.