Texas

Introduced in 2023, but not passed, HB 5146 would have established the Building Better Futures Program, that supports funding for Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would have administered the Program and adopted rules and policies, potentially creating application process for eligible institutions to apply for funding. Eligibility criteria for both colleges and students to participate would be established.

Introduced in the 2023 session, but not passed, this bill would provide individuals with intellectual disabilities attending a comprehensive transition program to receive waiver of tuition if the student is a veteran or other military personnel. The bill amends Section 54.001 Education to include the federal definition of a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program. It amends Sec 54.341 to include students who are admitted to attend or attend a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities in Texas’ existing veterans tuition waiver.

This bill was introduced in 2021, but did not pass. This legislation would create the Building Better Futures Program, which funds existing or emerging CTPs in Texas. The program will be overseen by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THBC). In order to apply for Building Better Futures funding, programs must either: Have been granted CTP status by the U.S. Department of Education or be awaiting approval of CTP status. If a program awaiting CTP status is given funds, they must be declared a CTP within 3 years in order to retain Building Better Futures funds.

The Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 61.0664 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB or Coordinating Board) to conduct an ongoing study on the college recruitment of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). According to the statute, the study is to “identify previously made recruitment efforts, limitations on recruitment and possible methods for recruitment” for this population (TEC, Section 61.0664(c)).

Introduced in March 2019, this bill directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create the Texas Students with Disabilities Scholarship Program, which would provide assistance to students with disabilities at Texas public higher education institutions. To be eligible for the proposed scholarship, students must be enrolled in an associate or baccalaureate degree or a certificate program.

This law enacted in June 2019 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create an advisory council on postsecondary education for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The advisory council will be tasked with developing educational outreach materials to raise awareness in Texas of PSE opportunities for individuals with IDD, and the Board will be responsible for distributing them.

This law, enacted in June 2015, requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to publicize information about PSE programs for students with IDD online and update it completely at least once every two years. The THECB must keep an online inventory of all such programs, and must also share those resources with the Texas Education Agency, which will use it to publish a guide on transition and employment.