05-R 386

2005 -- H 5740 AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/30/05

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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE NEWLY

ADOPTED PROVISIONS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION UNDER THE FEDERAL

DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT OF 2004, P.L. 108 - 446

Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Naughton, Williams, Dennigan, and E Coderre

Date Introduced: February 17, 2005

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the house of

representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

speaker of the house; three (3) of whom shall be members of the senate, not more than two (2)

from the same political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall

be the chairperson of the Governor's Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Intervention, or

designee; one of whom shall be the director of the Department of Human Services, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the state of

Rhode Island, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be parents of young children with

developmental disabilities, to be appointed by the chair of this commission; one of whom shall be

the executive director of the Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN), or designee; one

of whom shall be the president of Rhode Island ARC, or designee; one of whom shall be the

president of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI), or designee; one of whom shall be an

executive director of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association (DATA), or designee; and one

of whom shall be the executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic

Violence, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative of Rhode Island Hospital or Hasbro

Children Hospital to be appointed by the president of the hospital; and one from an early

intervention provider.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator; provided, that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment consent to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study Part C of the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act of 2004, P.L. 108-446 in order to recommend prospective changes and

amendments to the current state law and regulations necessary to incorporate the new provisions.

This study should include, but not be limited to:

     (1) The extension of the age eligibility from the current birth through three (3) provision

to the extended age span of birth through five (5); and

     (2) The inclusion of the language and provisions for "infants and toddlers who are

abused, neglected, drug exposed or have experienced family violence."

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filed in like manner as the original

appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The speaker of the house is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

general assembly no later than January 2, 2007 and said commission shall expire on March 2,

2007.

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LC01472

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