Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education.

89(R) SB 1679 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R2328 JTZ-F

By: Menéndez

S.B. No. 1679

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures

Program to support educational and occupational skills training

opportunities and support services for students with intellectual

and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions

of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter J-2 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J-2. BUILDING BETTER FUTURES PROGRAM

Sec.

61.571.

PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the Building

Better Futures Program is to facilitate the delivery by

institutions of higher education and private or independent

institutions of higher education of educational and occupational

skills training opportunities and support services to students with

intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive and

age-appropriate environment.

Sec.

61.572.

ADMINISTRATION; RULES. (a) The board shall

administer the Building Better Futures Program and adopt any rules

necessary to implement the program or this subchapter.

(b)

The board may develop a competitive application process

for the award of funds to eligible institutions under the program.

(c)

A program or course offered under the Building Better

Futures Program is exempt from the requirements of Sections 61.0512

and 61.822.

Sec.

61.573.

INSTITUTION ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be eligible

to participate in the Building Better Futures Program, an

institution of higher education or private or independent

institution of higher education must:

(1)

be approved by or awaiting approval from the

United States Department of Education to offer a comprehensive

transition and postsecondary program for students with

intellectual or developmental disabilities;

(2)

develop and implement a selective admissions

process to select eligible students under Section 61.574 for

admission to the institution's comprehensive transition and

postsecondary program; and

(3)

award a certificate to each student who

successfully completes the Building Better Futures Program at the

institution.

(b)

The board shall establish criteria to ensure that each

eligible institution that has requested but not yet received

approval from the United States Department of Education for the

institution's comprehensive transition and postsecondary program

obtains that approval not later than the third anniversary of the

date the institution is initially selected by the board for

participation in the Building Better Futures Program.

Sec.

61.574.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be eligible to

participate in the Building Better Futures Program, an applicant

must:

(1)

apply for admission to a comprehensive transition

and postsecondary program, or a program that is awaiting approval

from the United States Department of Education as a comprehensive

transition and postsecondary program, at an eligible institution;

(2)

be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the

United States;

(3)

subject to Subsection (d), be a resident of this

state as determined under Section 54.052;

(4)

have an intellectual or developmental disability

diagnosed by a physician, psychologist, or other individual

qualified by license or statute to make the diagnosis;

(5)

be able and willing to learn and participate in an

inclusive classroom and work setting; and

(6)

not be a danger to the applicant's self or others,

as determined by the accepting institution.

(b)

An applicant who is a lawful permanent resident of the

United States must submit with the applicant's application a copy

of the applicant's lawful permanent resident form.

(c)

An eligible institution may require an applicant or the

applicant's parent or guardian to provide proof of residency as

follows:

(1)

information from the Free Application for Federal

Student Aid;

(2)

a current driver's license issued by the

Department of Public Safety;

(3)

documentation of payment of personal or real

property taxes for the previous year;

(4)

current vehicle registration issued by the Texas

Department of Motor Vehicles;

(5)

a current voter registration certificate issued by

a voter registrar of a county in this state; or

(6) documentation described by Section 54.053.

(d)

An applicant who is not a resident of this state may

participate in the Building Better Futures Program at an eligible

institution only if the applicant is otherwise eligible under this

section and the institution has an opening available in the program

after all other eligible applicants are admitted.

Sec.

61.575.

TRANSFERABILITY.

Semester credit hours or the

equivalent completed through the Building Better Futures Program

may not be transferred to an associate or baccalaureate degree

program.

Sec.

61.576.

AWARD OF MONEY. The board may award money

under the Building Better Futures Program only to eligible

institutions to be used by the institutions to facilitate the

delivery of educational and occupational skills training

opportunities and support services to students participating in the

program.

Sec.

61.577.

FUNDING. The board may use any available

revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may solicit and

accept gifts, grants, and donations from a public or private source

for the purposes of this subchapter.

SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter J-2, Chapter 61,

Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after

the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. 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, 2025.