Substitute House Bill No. 6502
Public Act No. 13-10
AN ACT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PARAPROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10-155k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
[The] On and after July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Education shall establish a School Paraprofessional Advisory Council consisting of (1) one [representative] school paraprofessional from each state-wide bargaining representative organization that represents school paraprofessionals with instructional responsibilities, (2) one representative from each of the exclusive bargaining units for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, (3) the most recent recipient of the Connecticut Paraprofessional of the Year Award, (4) two representatives from the regional educational service centers, appointed by the Commissioner of Education, and (5) a school administrator, appointed by the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators. The council shall hold quarterly meetings and [annually] advise, at least quarterly, the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, of the needs for (A) professional development and the training of [such] paraprofessionals and the effectiveness of the content and the delivery of existing training for such paraprofessionals, (B) appropriate staffing strategies for paraprofessionals, and (C) other relevant issues relating to paraprofessionals. The council shall report, annually, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the recommendations given to the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, pursuant to the provisions of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.