2022 -- H 6621

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LC003497

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT)

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Amore, Henries, Kazarian,
Donovan, Kislak, Noret, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-24 of the General Laws entitled "Children With Disabilities [See

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Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding

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thereto the following section:

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     16-24-19. Local Advisory Committee on Special Education.

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     (a) There is hereby authorized, created and established a local advisory committee ("the

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committee") of each local education or regional special education program. The governing school

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committee or committees, as applicable, shall approve the by-laws of the advisory committee.

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     (b)(1) The committee, local or regional, shall consist of persons involved in or concerned

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with the education of students with disabilities or students whom are differentially abled. Parents,

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guardians or caretakers of students with disabilities or students whom are differentially abled shall

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compose a majority of the local committee membership. Parents, guardians or caretakers of

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students with disabilities or students whom are differentially abled shall consist of a majority of the

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local committee and at least fifty percent (50%) of this majority shall be selected by the parents,

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guardians or caretakers of children with disabilities or students whom are differentially abled.

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     (2) A regional committee shall reflect an equal distribution of representatives from each of

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the school districts that comprise the regional program. The members shall be as follows:

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     (i) One of whom is an individual with a disability or differentially abled;

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     (ii) One of whom is a public school administrator, or designee;

 

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     (iii) One of whom is a special education teacher, or designee;

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     (iv) One of whom is a general education teacher, or designee; and

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     (v) Other members of the community may be appointed to the committee at the discretion

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of the committee and school board.

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     (c) The committee shall advise the school district or regional program on matters

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concerning the unmet needs of students with disabilities or students whom are differentially abled,

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comment on improvement plans including school support plans resulting from the federal

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B compliance reports, local compliance

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with state and federal laws pertaining to the education of students with disabilities or students whom

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are differentially abled, comment on applications for federal and state funds and serve as advocates

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in partnership with parents, guardians or caretakers of students with disabilities or students whom

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are differentially abled to ensure that they receive the entitlements provided to them under state and

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federal laws.

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     (d) The local or regional educational agency shall provide support to the committee by

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contracting for technical assistance services with the Rhode Island designated parent training and

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technical assistance agency or other community-based nonprofit parent organization. Such

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technical assistance shall include the role of advisory committees in advocating for children, state

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and federal regulations, community resources, strategic planning and development of an annual

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report to the school committee. The local advisory committee shall present this annual report, at a

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public meeting, to the school committee of any district that is part of the local education or regional

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special education program. The local or regional educational agency shall also provide school and

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district improvement plans to the committee for comment and make available appropriate records

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and data as permitted by law. The public agency shall also support the committee in disseminating

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information to the parent, guardian or caretaker of the student with disabilities or student whom is

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differentially abled regarding the role of the advisory committee, information pertaining to special

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education and inform the committee of professional development opportunities that are available

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within the local education agency (LEA). As used in this section, the term "local or regional

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education agency" means the school district or regional school district serviced by the local

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advisory committee.

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     (e) The committee shall meet as often as necessary to conduct its business but no less than

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four (4) times annually. Official minutes shall be kept of all committee meetings and be available

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for public review. All committee meetings and agendas shall be publicly announced prior to any

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meeting, and meetings shall be open to the public. The committee shall be subject to the provisions

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of chapter 46 of title 42 (the "open meetings act"), except that the committee shall not release the

 

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identity or disclose information which could identify any particular student with a disability, or

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who is receiving special education services, or who is differently abled. Notwithstanding any

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provisions of ยง 42-46-5 to the contrary, a local advisory committee may go into executive session

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and may seal their executive session minutes for purposes of reviewing matters which relate to the

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privacy of students and their records; provided, however, that any affected student shall be notified

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in advance in writing and advised that the student may require that the discussion be held in an

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open meeting.

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     (f) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation; provided, however, they

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may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses for attending meetings and performing

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their duties.

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     (g) At the time a student is referred to special education, each school district or regional

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special education program shall provide the parent, guardian or caretaker of that student with

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notification of the existence of the local or regional advisory committee for special education

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established pursuant to this section. The notification shall specify that a majority of the local

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advisory committee on special education is parents, guardians or caretakers of students with

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disabilities or students whom are differentially abled, and shall provide the parent, guardian or

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caretaker with the contact information for the chairperson of the local advisory committee for

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special education or the regional advisory committee on special education.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT)

***

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     This act would create a local advisory committee on special education in every school

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district to advise the school district on matters concerning the unmet needs of students with

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disabilities, comment on improvement plans including school support plans resulting from the

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federal Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA) Part B compliance reports, local

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compliance with state and federal laws pertaining to the education of students with disabilities,

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comment on applications for federal and state funds and serve as advocates in partnership with

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parents, guardians or caretakers of students with disabilities to ensure that they receive the

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entitlements provided to them under state and federal laws. The majority of the committee would

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be comprised of parents, guardians or caretakers of students with disabilities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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