Bill Text: TX SB1452 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to designation of autism innovation zones by the commissioner of education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Referred to Education [SB1452 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1452-Introduced.html
86R4403 JES-F | ||
By: Taylor | S.B. No. 1452 |
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relating to designation of autism innovation zones by the | ||
commissioner of education. | ||
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. AUTISM INNOVATION ZONES. (a) The | ||
commissioner may: | ||
(1) on application of a school district or | ||
open-enrollment charter school, designate a campus of the district | ||
or school as an autism innovation zone; and | ||
(2) from funds appropriated or donated for purposes of | ||
this section, award a grant to support implementation of innovative | ||
instruction to students with autism at the campus in accordance | ||
with this section. | ||
(a-1) The total amount of grants awarded under this section | ||
during the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2021, may not | ||
exceed $10 million. This subsection expires December 1, 2021. | ||
(b) A campus designated as an autism innovation zone must: | ||
(1) implement with fidelity an innovative | ||
instructional program for students with autism approved by the | ||
commissioner for purposes of this section that incorporates the | ||
measurable annual goals contained in the students' individualized | ||
education programs developed under Section 29.005; | ||
(2) comply with objectives, metrics, and other autism | ||
innovation zone requirements imposed by the commissioner through | ||
rules adopted under Subsection (g); and | ||
(3) provide all data relating to the autism innovation | ||
zone requested by the agency. | ||
(c) A campus designated as an autism innovation zone is not | ||
subject to interventions under the state accountability system | ||
described by Section 39A.101(a) or 39A.111 for the first two years | ||
of the designation, provided that the campus implements the | ||
instructional program with fidelity and complies with each autism | ||
innovation zone requirement to the satisfaction of the | ||
commissioner. The period that a campus is exempt from | ||
interventions as provided by this subsection is not: | ||
(1) included in calculating consecutive school years | ||
under Section 39A.101(a) or 39A.111; or | ||
(2) considered a break in consecutive school years of | ||
unacceptable ratings for purposes of determining the need for | ||
intervention under Section 39A.101(a) or 39A.111. | ||
(d) The commissioner may revoke designation of a campus as | ||
an autism innovation zone and suspend associated grant funding if | ||
the commissioner determines that the campus has failed to implement | ||
the instructional program with fidelity or comply with any | ||
requirement imposed under this section. | ||
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may | ||
use a pay for success program approved by the commissioner under | ||
Section 44.904 to pay costs associated with designation of a campus | ||
as an autism innovation zone. | ||
(f) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, or donations | ||
from any public or private source for purposes of this section. | ||
(g) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to | ||
administer this section. | ||
(h) A decision or determination by the commissioner under | ||
this section is final and may not be appealed. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |