Bill Text: TX SB38 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to creation of an employment-first task force advisory committee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB38 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB38-Introduced.html
84R1773 GRM-D | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 38 |
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relating to creation of an employment-first task force advisory | ||
committee. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 531.02449 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 531.02449. EMPLOYMENT-FIRST TASK FORCE ADVISORY | ||
COMMITTEE. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | ||
(2) "Task force" means the interagency | ||
employment-first task force established under Section 531.02448. | ||
(b) The task force shall establish an advisory committee to | ||
make recommendations for increasing and expanding postsecondary | ||
educational opportunities and access for individuals with | ||
intellectual or developmental disabilities. | ||
(c) The presiding officer of the task force, after | ||
consulting with the task force, shall name the members of the | ||
advisory committee. The advisory committee: | ||
(1) may not: | ||
(A) consist of more than 11 members; or | ||
(B) include members of the task force; and | ||
(2) must at least include the following members: | ||
(A) an individual with an intellectual or | ||
developmental disability; | ||
(B) a family member of an individual with an | ||
intellectual or developmental disability; | ||
(C) an advocate for individuals with | ||
intellectual or developmental disabilities; | ||
(D) a representative of the Texas Council for | ||
Developmental Disabilities; | ||
(E) a representative of the Department of | ||
Assistive and Rehabilitative Services; | ||
(F) a representative of the Department of Aging | ||
and Disability Services; | ||
(G) a representative of the Texas Higher | ||
Education Coordinating Board; | ||
(H) a representative of the Texas Workforce | ||
Commission; | ||
(I) a representative of the Texas Education | ||
Agency; and | ||
(J) a representative of an institution of higher | ||
education. | ||
(d) A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of | ||
the task force. | ||
(e) The advisory committee shall elect a presiding officer | ||
of the committee. | ||
(f) The advisory committee established under this section | ||
shall: | ||
(1) set appropriate outcomes and goals; | ||
(2) survey institutions of higher education for: | ||
(A) programs that serve individuals with | ||
intellectual or developmental disabilities; and | ||
(B) plans to provide or interest in providing | ||
those programs; | ||
(3) research existing programs in and model programs | ||
outside this state; | ||
(4) propose expansion options for existing programs or | ||
the implementation of new programs, including potential funding | ||
options for those programs; | ||
(5) determine regional deficiencies; | ||
(6) leverage existing private and nonprofit efforts | ||
and partnerships; | ||
(7) periodically make recommendations to the Texas | ||
Higher Education Coordinating Board and institutions of higher | ||
education regarding action the entities should take to increase | ||
postsecondary opportunities and access for individuals with | ||
intellectual or developmental disabilities; and | ||
(8) make recommendations on legislative policy | ||
changes affecting postsecondary education for individuals with | ||
intellectual or developmental disabilities. | ||
(g) Not later than September 1, 2016, the advisory committee | ||
shall prepare and submit to the office of the governor, the | ||
legislature, and the executive commissioner a report regarding the | ||
committee's findings and recommendations. | ||
(h) A member of the advisory committee established under | ||
this section is not entitled to compensation. Members may be | ||
reimbursed for expenses as follows: | ||
(1) a member described by Subsection (c)(2)(A), (B), | ||
or (C) is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary | ||
expenses as provided in the General Appropriations Act; and | ||
(2) a member appointed as a representative of a state | ||
agency is eligible for reimbursement for travel and other necessary | ||
expenses according to the applicable agency's policies. | ||
(i) The commission and the health and human services | ||
agencies shall provide administrative support and staff to the | ||
advisory committee established under this section. | ||
(j) This section expires September 1, 2017. | ||
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the presiding | ||
officer of the employment-first task force shall appoint the | ||
members of the advisory committee under Section 531.02449, | ||
Government Code, as added by 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, 2015. |