Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 From: Maxwell, Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 1:02 PM To: Kay Lambert Subject: HB 1339 Education advocates will certainly be interested in HB 1339 by Eissler relating to the date on which a school district must complete a report of an evaluation of a student for special education services. Again I have pasted the bill at the end of this e-mail. You can also view the bill at <http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78r/billtext/HB01339I.HTM> This bill would loosen the deadline by which a full individual and initial evaluation be completed by a school district. Currently the evaluation must be done by the 60th calendar day following a referral for special education services. This bill starts the clock at the point when the school receives a written consent for the evaluation, signed by the student's parent or legal guardian. This change concerns education advocates because it would give districts the authority to delay completion of an evaluation for special education services by not giving forms to parents as soon as possible. For example, should a district be having problems due to an overload of referrals to process, they would be allowed to delay giving out the permission forms - rather than contracting for extra help. This bill puts an extra element in the referral process. Sixty days equals about two months of school. For eligible students the delay may mean ineffective instruction for two additional months - equal to about ¼ of a school year. Should you wish to offer comments regarding this bill, I am listing the contact information for the House Public Education Committee and bill author. As always, please feel free to contact me with your input or questions on this or any other matter as we go through this legislative session. Maxwell Public Policy Specialist Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities 1- susan.maxwell@... By: Eissler H.B. No. 1339 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the date on which a school district must complete a report of an evaluation of a student for special education services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 29.004, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 29.004. FULL INDIVIDUAL AND INITIAL EVALUATION. (a) A written report of a full individual and initial evaluation of a student for purposes of special education services shall be completed not later than the 60th calendar day following the date on which the school district, in accordance with 20 U.S.C. Section 1414(a), as amended, receives written consent [referral] for the evaluation, signed by [was initiated by school personnel,] the student's parent or legal guardian[, or another appropriate person]. ( The evaluation shall be conducted using procedures that are appropriate for the student's most proficient method of communication. SECTION 2. Section 29.004, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies to the date on which a report of an evaluation of a student for special education services must be completed only in the case of an evaluation performed on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. Bill author contact information: Representative Rob Eissler Capitol Phone: Capitol Fax District Office The Woodlands District Phone District Fax Contact Information for all House Public Education Committee: Representative Kent Grusendorf Chair - House Public Education Committee Capitol Phone Capitol Fax District Office Arlington, TX District Phone District Fax Representative Rene Oliveira Vice Chair - House Public Education Committee Capitol Phone Capitol Fax non listed District Office Brownsville, TX District Phone District Fax 956- 542-1618 Representative Dan Branch Capitol Phone: Capitol Fax 512- 463-5896 District Office Dallas District Phone District Fax Representative Glenda Dawson Capitol Phone: 512- 463-0707 Capitol Fax 512- 463-1939 District Office Pearland District Phone toll free District Fax none listed Representative Harold Dutton Capitol Phone: Capitol Fax 512- 463-5896 District Office Houston District Phone District Fax Representative Rob Eissler Capitol Phone: Capitol Fax District Office The Woodlands District Phone District Fax Representative Bob E. Griggs Capitol Phone: Capitol Fax 512- 463-5896 District Office North Richland Hills District Phone 817- 581-1000 District Fax non listed Representative Hochberg Capitol Phone: 512- 463-0492 - Capitol Fax 512- 463- 5896 District Office Houston District Phone District Fax Representative Jerry Madden Capitol Phone: 512- 463-0544 Capitol Fax 512- 463-9974 District Office Plano District Phone District Fax ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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