(February 28, 2007)--Advocates hailed a proposal Wednesday to offer Texas children with autism taxpayer dollars to attend specialized schools, but critics quickly attacked the legislation, calling it a voucher scheme that would take money out of public schools.

The bill by Republican Sen. Florence Shapiro would offer students the dollar amount equal to the amount that would ordinarily go to the child's home school district.

Students would be able to transfer to another school of the parents' choice - public or private.

Shapiro, a Plano Republican, said some school districts provide excellent services for autistic children, but others don't.

She estimates that specialized schooling for children with autism costs about $14,000 a year.

Public schools get about half of that for each student.

Critics suggested Shapiro's proposal is an underhanded attempt to adopt a voucher plan.

"This bill is no different from the voucher schemes the Legislature has defeated in the past," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network.

"It offers false hope to families while draining precious resources from the very public schools that serve all children, regardless of their disabilities."

Children with autism could best be helped by giving schools more money to help them educate special needs students, Miller said.

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Central Texas State Senators

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
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Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
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Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
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Central Texas State Representatives

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
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State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
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State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
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State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
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Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
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Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
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Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
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Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
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Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
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Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
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