Sec. 29.0162. REPRESENTATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION DUE PROCESS HEARING.

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(a)A person in an impartial due process hearing brought under 20 U.S.C. Section 1415 may be represented by:

(1)an attorney who is licensed in this state; or

(2)an individual who is not an attorney licensed in this state but who has special knowledge or training with respect to problems of children with disabilities and who satisfies qualifications under Subsection (b).

(b)The commissioner by rule shall adopt additional qualifications and requirements for a representative for purposes of Subsection (a)(2). The rules must:

(1)prohibit an individual from being a representative under Subsection (a)(2) opposing a school district if:

(A)the individual has prior employment experience with the district; and

(B)the district raises an objection to the individual serving as a representative;

(2)include requirements that the representative have knowledge of:

(A)all special education dispute resolution options available to parents, including due process and due process rules, hearings, and procedure; and

(B)federal and state special education laws;

(3)require, if the representative receives monetary compensation from a person for representation in an impartial due process hearing, that the representative agree to abide by a voluntary code of ethics and professional conduct during the period of representation; and

(4)require, if the representative receives monetary compensation from a person for representation in an impartial due process hearing, that the representative enter into a written agreement for representation with the person who is the subject of the special education due process hearing that includes a process for resolving any disputes between the representative and the person.

(c)A special education due process hearing officer shall determine whether an individual satisfies qualifications under Subsections (a)(2) and (b).

(d)The agency is not required to license or in any way other than as provided by Subsection

(b)regulate representatives described by Subsection (a)(2) in a special education impartial due process hearing.

(e)The written agreement for representation required under Subsection (b)(4) is considered confidential and may not be disclosed.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1333 (S.B. 709 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 767 (S.B. 2141 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 12, 2017.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1065 (H.B. 2 ), Sec. 4.18, eff. June 20, 2025.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1137 (S.B. 568 ), Sec. 18, eff. June 20, 2025.