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.