H.B. No. 2219 amends the Education Code to expand the eligibility criteria for special education services in public schools to include students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Specifically, the bill modifies Section 29.003(b) by adding FASD as a qualifying disability alongside existing categories such as physical disabilities, intellectual or developmental disabilities, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, autism, speech disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. The new legal language inserted into the bill specifies that students with FASD are now recognized as needing special services to ensure they can be adequately and safely educated in public schools.

The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from all elected members in both houses; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025. This legislative change aims to provide necessary support and resources for students with FASD, ensuring they have access to appropriate educational services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.003 (Education Code 29)