HBA-GUM H.B. 3665 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3665
By: Wise
Human Services
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a visually handicapped person does not always benefit
from the same educational services, such as paid tuition, room and board,
meals, transportation, books, and supplies,  as other certain handicapped
individuals.  Visually handicapped persons are not served by the same Texas
Rehabilitation Commission (TRC) guidelines regarding services to other
handicapped persons. Providing a visually handicapped person with the
aforementioned educational services, as well as transportation and
on-campus housing, might encourage that individual to seek post-secondary
educational opportunities.  H.B. 3665 requires the Texas Commission for the
Blind (TCB) to provide such educational services to  visually handicapped
persons to ensure that each person has access to appropriate post-secondary
education and training, and authorizes TCB to grant a visually handicapped
person financial assistance to cover necessary expenses incurred in
receiving a postsecondary education.  In addition, this bill authorizes TCB
to contract with TRC or another state agency or institution to provide any
specified educational service.  This bill also requires TCB to adopt rules
and to report to specified persons on the actions taken by TCB to implement
this bill. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Commission for the Blind in
SECTION 2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 91, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 91.029, as follows: 

Sec.  91.029.  POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING.  (a)  Requires the
Texas Commission for the Blind (TCB) to provide services to a visually
handicapped person to ensure that each person has access to appropriate
post-secondary education and training. 

(b)  Authorizes TCB, in providing services under this section, to provide a
visually handicapped person with a grant to cover necessary expenses to
attend an institution of higher education or other educational or training
program.  Authorizes TCB to provide any ancillary service related to the
person's attendance at the specified institution or program, including the
provision of transportation. 

(c)  Authorizes TCB to contract with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission or
another state agency or institution to provide a service described by this
section. 

SECTION 2.  Requires TCB, not later than January 1, 2000, to adopt rules to
implement Section 91.029, Human Services Code, as added by this Act, and
report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and the legislature on the action taken by TCB to
implement the provisions of this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.