R 171

2003 -- H 6379

Enacted 04/30/03

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

OPPOSING THE APPROVAL OF H.R. 1350, AMENDING THE INDIVIDUALS WITH

DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT TO REAUTHORIZE APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH FY 2009

Introduced By: Representatives Sherlock, Naughton, Giannini, Carter, and Benson

Date Introduced: April 30, 2003

     WHEREAS, On April 10, 2003, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce

approved H.R. 1350, the "Improving Education Results for Children with Disabilities Act of

2003"; and

     WHEREAS, The bill will be brought to the full House for a vote on the floor, expected to

take place on April 30th; and

     WHEREAS, Parents, advocates, students and others interested in the welfare and rights

of students with disabilities in this country are banning together to protest H.R. 1350; and

     WHEREAS, Despite good efforts of individuals and organizations, the proposed bill

includes numerous damaging provisions and would compromise many of the rights that the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has provided since its enactment in 1975; and

     WHEREAS, Some of the problem issues included in H.R. 1350 are:

     "optional" 3 year IEPs,

     the removal of short-term objectives and benchmarks,

     the introduction of "optional" voluntary arbitration,

     gives governors authority power to set attorneys' fees,

     destroys discipline protections and provisions (functional behavior assessments,

behavior intervention plans, and manifestation determinations),

     requires parents to give "specific notice" of due process complaints,

     does not require full (40%) federal funding of IDEA – which isn't happening

despite the law requiring it; and

     WHEREAS, April 29, 2003 will be proclaimed as a National Day of protest against H.R.

1350; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby opposes the approval of H.R. 1350, "Improving Education Results

for Children with Disabilities Act of 2003"; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the entire Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation.

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LC03158

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