Sec. 29.0112. TRANSITION AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDE. (a) The agency, with assistance from the Health and Human Services Commission, shall develop a transition and employment guide for students enrolled in special education programs and their parents to provide information on statewide services and programs that assist in the transition to life outside the public school system. The agency may contract with a private entity to prepare the guide.

(b) The transition and employment guide must be written in plain language and contain information specific to this state regarding:

(1) transition services;

(2) employment and supported employment services;

(3) social security programs;

(4) community and long-term services and support, including the option to place the student on a waiting list with a governmental agency for public benefits available to the student, such as a waiver program established under Section 1915(c), Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n(c));

(5) postsecondary educational programs and services, including the inventory maintained by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.0663;

(6) information sharing with health and human services agencies and providers;

(7) guardianship and alternatives to guardianship, including a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code;

(8) self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and self-determination; and

(9) contact information for all relevant state agencies.

(c) The transition and employment guide must be produced in an electronic format and posted on the agency's website in a manner that permits the guide to be easily identified and accessed.

(d) The agency must update the transition and employment guide posted on the agency's website at least once every two years.

(e) A school district shall:

(1) post the transition and employment guide on the district's website if the district maintains a website;

(2) provide written information and, if necessary, assistance to a student or parent regarding how to access the electronic version of the guide at:

(A) the first meeting of the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee at which transition is discussed; and

(B) the first committee meeting at which transition is discussed that occurs after the date on which the guide is updated; and

(3) on request, provide a printed copy of the guide to a student or parent.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 257 (H.B. 617), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 747 (H.B. 1807), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 574 (S.B. 748), Sec. 2, eff. June 9, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1044 (H.B. 1886), Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2017.

See note following this section.