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For this weekly feature, the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) profiles a noteworthy bill going through the legislative process. The bill may relate directly to TCDD’s Public Policy Priorities or another disability-related issue.
Bill of the Week: HB 2081
House Bill (HB) 2081, relating to establishing the Building Better Futures Program. The program would support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at public and private higher education institutions. HB 2081 was authored by Rep. John Bucy III, from Austin, House District 136.
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We’ve created a Bill of the Week one-pager (PDF, 637 KB) for HB 2081. This is a simplified explanation of the bill that you can share with your representative and personal network.
Background
The federal Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 created a new type of college program for students with IDD. Comprehensive transition and postsecondary (CTP) programs support students with IDD to continue academic, career, and independent living instruction. This helps students prepare for gainful employment by facilitating educational and occupational skills trainings and support. The federal law provides access to federal student aid for students with IDD attending an approved CTP program, regardless of whether the students have their high school diplomas or if the program offers a degree or certificate.
What does the bill do?
HB 2081 would create the Building Better Futures Program. This program would facilitate educational and occupational training opportunities and support services for students with IDD at colleges and universities. The program would be held in inclusive, age-appropriate settings.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) would administer the Building Better Futures Program and adopt rules to implement the program. The board could develop a competitive application process to award funds to eligible institutions.
Any program or course offered under the Building Better Futures Program would be exempt from core curriculum requirements. Semester credit hours or the equivalent completed through the program could not be transferred to an associate or bachelor’s degree program. An institution could also add a new degree or certificate program without prior approval from the THECB.
HB 2081 would establish eligibility criteria for colleges and universities to participate in the program, as well as criteria for students. The bill specifies that out-of-state applicants can only participate if an opening is available after all Texas applicants are admitted.
Eligible institutions may only use the funds awarded under the Building Better Futures Program to facilitate educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services to students participating in the program. The bill allows the THECB to use legislative appropriations and any other sources of revenue — including gifts, grants, and donations — to fund the program.
If passed, HB 2081 would take effect on Sept. 1, 2025, or immediately if it received an affirmative vote of two-thirds in both the House and the Senate. The THECB would be required to adopt rules for the program as soon as possible.
“Through meaningful postsecondary education and occupational training, we can help Texans with intellectual disabilities achieve increased self-sufficiency and access to employment. All Texans have the right to quality education and civic participation, and by passing this bill, we could help make that right a reality.”
Rep. John Bucy III, bill author
Where is the bill in the process?
On Jan. 24, 2025, HB 2081 was filed for the 89th regular session. The bill is waiting to be referred to a committee.
Who supports the bill and why?
The following comments were provided at an April 17, 2023, hearing on a bill nearly identical to HB 2081:
- The Arc of Texas: Ashley Ford, then the director of public policy and advocacy at The Arc of Texas, testified in support of the bill. She noted that, at the time, she was also the presiding officer of the THECB’s Advisory Council on Postsecondary Education for Persons with IDD. She noted that Texas has fewer CTP programs than other states. Florida has 21 approved programs; Tennessee has seven; Louisiana has five; and Pennsylvania has 12. Ford indicated that Texas has only four approved four-year CTP programs, which limits opportunities for Texan students with IDD. Increasing the number of CTP programs in Texas, she stated, “would ensure that students with [IDD] have the opportunity to get credentials that result in meaningful employment and economic self-sufficiency.”
The following groups also registered their support for the bill but provided no testimony: Goodwill Central Texas, National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter, Texas Association of Goodwills, Texas Council of Community Centers, Texas Parent to Parent, and United Ways of Texas.
Who opposes the bill and why?
No opposition was registered at the hearing in 2023.
Additional Testimony
- TCDD: Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, then a public policy analyst for TCDD, provided testimony on the bill. She highlighted the return on investment in current CTP programs, citing Texas and national data that show 72% of program graduates obtain a job within two years of completion, 91% of program participants are satisfied with their social life, and 52% of attending students are gainfully employed during their time in the program. Gonzalez Saucedo then provided an overview of Texas State University’s Bobcat RISE (Resilience, Independence, Self-Determination, Empowerment) program. Funded through a grant from TCDD, it is a four-year residential inclusive postsecondary education program for students with IDD that is obtaining CTP accreditation. In her written remarks, she noted, “RISE expands the breadth of institutional inclusion by welcoming non-traditional students with IDD and empowering them to develop to their highest potential, govern their own lives, and participate fully and freely in the community as citizens of Texas, the nation, and the world.”
- Education Expert: Vickie Mitchell, who has worked in general education and higher education for over 53 years, spoke on the bill. Mitchell also served on the THECB’s Advisory Council on Postsecondary Education for Persons with IDD. She stated how important it is for students with IDD to receive continued education after high school, especially through employment. She explained that students with IDD have limited options for federal aid, but the bill would create new opportunities for financial assistance through CTP programs established as a result of the bill.
How much will the bill cost?
In 2023, the Legislative Budget Board was unable to determine how a bill similar to HB 2081 would impact the state budget, citing the absence of data on the number of institutions that would be eligible to receive awards and how much funding would be awarded.
Is there a Senate companion to the bill?
There is no Senate companion to HB 2081.
Stay Informed
For the latest information about where HB 2081 is in the process, follow the bill on the Texas Legislature Online. To receive future legislative updates from TCDD, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
