Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education.

SB 1679 establishes the "Building Better Futures Program" to provide educational and occupational skills training with support services for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities at Texas public and private colleges. Eligible institutions must have U.S. Department of Education approval for transition programs and follow specific admissions criteria to participate, while students must be Texas residents with a diagnosed disability. The program exempts participating courses from certain existing education code requirements (Sections 61.0512 and 61.822) and requires institutions to award certificates upon program completion. This directly supports students with disabilities in accessing inclusive higher education opportunities at participating institutions.