By: Bettencourt S.R. No. 709     SENATE RESOLUTION          BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, That Senate Rule 12.03 be   suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the   conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on   Senate Bill 568 (relating to special education in public schools,   including funding for special education under the Foundation   School Program) to consider and take action on the following   matters:          (1)  Senate Rule 12.03(1) is suspended to permit the   committee to change, alter, or amend text not in disagreement in   proposed SECTION 5 of the bill, by amending added Section   29.001(c)(6)(C), Education Code, to read as follows:                      (C)  appropriately trained personnel are   available to students with disabilities who have significant   behavioral support needs, including by making behavioral support   training available to each paraprofessional or teacher placed in   a classroom or other setting that is intended to provide   specialized behavioral supports to a student with a disability,   as needed or at regular intervals as provided in the student's   individualized education program;          Explanation: This change is necessary to clarify to whom   behavioral support training must be made available to ensure   appropriately trained personnel are available to students with   disabilities who have significant behavioral support needs.          (2)  Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the   committee to add text on a matter not included in either the house   or senate version of the bill in proposed SECTION 12 of the bill,   in amended Section 29.008(c), Education Code, to read as follows:   If a [residential] placement primarily for care or treatment   reasons involves a private [residential] facility in which the   education program is provided by the school district, the portion   of the costs that includes appropriate education services, as   determined by the school district's admission, review, and   dismissal committee, shall be paid from local, state, and federal   education funds.          Explanation: This change is necessary to allow school   districts to pay the cost for certain placements in a private   facility from local funds.          (3)  Senate Rule 12.03(2) is suspended to permit the   committee to omit text not in disagreement by omitting the   portion of proposed SECTION 24 of the bill that adds Section   29.024, Education Code. The omitted text reads:          Sec. 29.024.  GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDING TRAINING IN   DYSLEXIA FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF. (a) From money appropriated or   otherwise available for the purpose, the commissioner shall   establish a program to award grants each school year to school   districts and open-enrollment charter schools to increase local   capacity to appropriately serve students with dyslexia.          (b)  A school district, including a school district acting   through a district charter issued under Subchapter C, Chapter 12,   or an open-enrollment charter school, including a charter school   that primarily serves students with disabilities, as provided   under Section 12.1014, is eligible to apply for a grant under   this section if the district or school submits to the   commissioner a proposal on the use of grant funds that:                (1)  incorporates  evidence-based and   research-based design; and                (2)  increases local capacity to appropriately serve   students with dyslexia by providing:                      (A)  high-quality training to classroom   teachers and administrators in meeting the needs of students with   dyslexia; or                      (B)  training to intervention staff resulting   in appropriate credentialing related to dyslexia, with priority   for training staff to earn the credentials necessary to become a   licensed dyslexia therapist or certified academic language   therapist.          (c)  The commissioner shall create an external panel of   stakeholders, including parents of students with disabilities,   to provide assistance in the selection of applications for the   award of grants under this section.          (d)  A grant awarded to a school district or   open-enrollment charter school under this section is in addition   to the Foundation School Program money that the district or   charter school is otherwise entitled to receive. A grant awarded   under this section may not come out of Foundation School Program   money.          (e)  The commissioner and any grant recipient selected   under this section may accept gifts, grants, and donations from   any public or private source, person, or group to implement and   administer the grant.  The commissioner and any grant recipient   selected under this section may not require any financial   contribution from parents to implement and administer the grant.          (f)  A regional education service center may administer   grants awarded under this section.          Explanation: This change is necessary to omit language   that would authorize the commissioner of education to establish a   grant program to provide training in serving students with   dyslexia to school district and open-enrollment charter school   teachers and staff.          (4)  Senate Rule 12.03(1) is suspended to permit the   committee to change, alter, or amend text not in disagreement in   proposed SECTION 27 of the bill, by amending Section 29.042(a),   Education Code, to read as follows:   Subject to Subsection (c), the agency shall provide each student   approved as provided by this subchapter a grant of not more than   $1,500 to purchase supplemental [special education] services and   supplemental [special education] instructional materials.          Explanation: This change is necessary to provide the   amount of the grant provided under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29,   Education Code.          (5)  Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the   committee to add text on a matter not included in either the house   or senate version of the bill in proposed SECTION 27 of the bill,   by adding Section 29.042(f), Education Code, to read as follows:          (f)  A regional education service center designated to   administer the program under this subchapter for a school year is   entitled to receive not more than four percent of the amount   appropriated for purposes of making grants under this subchapter   for that school year for the costs of administering the program.          Explanation: This change is necessary to clarify the   amount of money a regional education service center may receive   for administering the program under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29,   Education Code.          (6)  Senate Rule 12.03(1) is suspended to permit the   committee to change, alter, or amend text not in disagreement in   proposed SECTION 28 of the bill, in amended Section 29.045,   Education Code, to read as follows:   Subject to available funding the agency shall approve each   student who meets the program eligibility criteria established   under Section 29.044 and assign to the student an account   maintained under Section 29.042(b).          Explanation: This change is necessary to ensure that the   approval of and assignment of accounts to eligible students under   the program under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29, Education Code, are   subject to available funding.          (7)  Senate Rule 12.03(2) is suspended to permit the   committee to omit text not in disagreement by omitting the   portion of proposed SECTION 63 of the bill that adds Section   48.306, Education Code.  The omitted text reads:          Sec. 48.306.  PARENT-DIRECTED SERVICES FOR STUDENTS   RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES GRANT. (a) A student to   whom the agency awards a grant under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29,   is entitled to receive an amount of $1,500 or a greater amount   provided by appropriation.          (b)  The legislature shall include in the appropriations   for the Foundation School Program state aid sufficient for the   agency to award grants under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29, in the   amount provided by this section.          (c)  A student may receive one grant under Subchapter A-1,   Chapter 29, unless the legislature appropriates money for an   additional grant in the General Appropriations Act.          (d)  A regional education service center designated to   administer the program under Subchapter A-1, Chapter 29, for a   school year is entitled to an amount equal to four percent of each   grant awarded under that subchapter for that school year.          (e)  Notwithstanding Section 7.057, a determination of   the commissioner under this section is final and may not be   appealed.          Explanation: This change is necessary to omit language   that would provide an entitlement to a grant under Subchapter   A-1, Chapter 29, Education Code, or to an amount for   administering the program under that subchapter.             _______________________________          President of the Senate                I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on May 31, 2025, by the   following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.                 _______________________________          Secretary of the Senate