85R21769 MM-D
 
  By: Allen, Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 2623
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring school districts and certain facilities to
  assist students in making the transition back to school after
  certain prolonged placements outside of school.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.903 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.903.  ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENT TRANSITIONING BACK TO
  SCHOOL AFTER PROLONGED PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. (a)  This
  section applies to the following facilities:
               (1)  a disciplinary alternative education program;
               (2)  a juvenile justice alternative education program;
               (3)  a residential program or facility operated by or
  under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a
  juvenile board, or any other governmental entity;
               (4)  any residential treatment center; and
               (5)  a public or private hospital.
         (b)  Each school district and facility listed under
  Subsection (a) shall coordinate to assist a student enrolled in the
  district in making the transition back to school after being in the
  facility for a period equivalent to 30 instructional days or more
  during the school year. The assistance provided by the district and
  the facility must include development and implementation of a
  personalized transition service plan for each student who has been
  absent from school as described by this subsection. The principal
  of the school the student attends following the absence shall
  designate one or more appropriate school employees, including at
  least one teacher, and an appropriate supervisor employed by the
  facility in which the student was placed shall designate one or more
  appropriate facility employees to coordinate in developing the
  plan.  To the greatest extent practicable, the plan must be
  developed in consultation with the student and the student's parent
  or person standing in parental relation to the student. To the
  extent appropriate for a particular student, the plan must include:
               (1)  consideration of the best educational placement
  for the student;
               (2)  provision of counseling, behavioral management
  assistance, as available, or academic assistance by the school
  based on the student's academic, school reentry, and career and
  employment goals; and
               (3)  assistance concerning access to community mental
  health or substance abuse services, as available.
         (c)  As soon as practicable after a facility listed under
  Subsection (a) has determined the date of a student's release from
  the facility, the facility shall give to the school district in
  which the student intends to attend school following release
  written notice of that date and that the facility is prepared to
  begin coordinating with the district to develop the student's
  personalized transition service plan under Subsection (b).  This
  subsection applies only to a student subject to compulsory
  attendance requirements under Section 25.085.
         (d)  The agency shall give annual written notice to each
  facility listed under Subsection (a) of the facility's duty under
  this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies to absences from public school
  beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
         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, 2017.