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Texas Members of

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

2007 Texas Legislature Bills of Interest

HB 18:  Would create a public education voucher pilot program in Texas’ six largest school districts for children who qualify for the national free or reduced-price lunch program and either failed the most recent TAKS test or attend a poorly-performing school.  A child's voucher would be payable from the school district to the private school on behalf of the child. 

HB 19:  Would create a voucher program for public school students with disabilities. 

HB 289 and SB 200:  would expand faith- and community-based health and human services (HHS) initiatives by increasing state assistance to faith- and community-based organizations (FCO). 

Each state HHS agency and some other agencies, including TEA and TDCJ, would designate a liaison for FCO.  The liaisons would identify and remove unnecessary barriers to partnerships with FCO, inform and train agency employees about equal opportunity standards for FCO seeking to partner with the state, and conduct outreach to inform and welcome FCO that have not traditionally partnered with the agency. 

HHS would establish a center for faith- and community-based initiatives.  

A “renewing our communities account” would be created in the general revenue fund to increase the capacity of and strengthen FCO, help local governments establish offices for faith- and community-based initiatives, and leverage state and local resources to acquire federal or private grants to provide charitable services.  HHS would award grants based on a competitive process.  Grants may be awarded to small and medium-sized FCO for capacity-building purposes.  HHS would be required to establish and monitor performance and outcome measures for grantees.

SB 1000  Would set up a voucher program for students with autism or autism spectrum disorder.

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