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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6883
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 5753
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
Introduced by:
(ED)
AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) As used in this section and 1
sections 3, 4 and 11 of this act: 2
(1) "Transition service" means a service for a student who requires 3
special education to facilitate the student's transition from school to 4
postsecondary activities such as postsecondary education and training, 5
employment or independent living; 6
(2) "Transition program" means a coordinated set of transition 7
services; 8
(3) "Transition resources" means sources of information, counseling 9
or training concerning transition services or programs; 10
(4) "Public transition program" means a program operated by a local 11
or regional board of education or a regional educational service center 12
to provide transition services for a student who requires special 13 Raised Bill No. 6883
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education and is eighteen to twenty-two years of age, inclusive, based 14
on the goals set forth in such student's individualized education 15
program; and 16
(5) "Transition coordinator" means a director of pupil personnel or 17
other person employed by a local or regional board of education, as 18
designated by such director, who assists parents and students in the 19
school district governed by such board navigate the transition resources, 20
transition services and transition programs available for such student. 21
(b) There is established an Office of Transition Services within the 22
Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education. The Office of 23
Transition Services shall (1) oversee the coordination of transition 24
resources, transition services and transition programs operated by each 25
state agency, including, but not limited to, the Departments of 26
Education, Developmental Services, Aging and Disability Services, 27
Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children and Families, (2) 28
establish minimum standards for public transition programs and 29
metrics for measuring such standards, (3) perform unannounced site 30
visits of public transition programs for the purpose of determining the 31
effectiveness of and suggesting improvements to such programs and 32
post data on its Internet web site related to how such public transition 33
program measured against the minimum standards established 34
pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, (4) develop and make 35
available on the Department of Education's Internet web site a course 36
for educators and school staff who do not provide transition services to 37
inform such educators and staff about transition services and programs, 38
including, but not limited to, about the purpose, essential programming 39
and deadlines of such programs, (5) establish minimum standards for 40
the training of transition coordinators and maintain a record of each 41
transition coordinator completing the training program developed by 42
the Department of Education pursuant to section 3 of this act, (6) 43
establish best practices for the provision of transition services and 44
distribute such best practices to each transition coordinator, and (7) 45
develop, and update as needed, a training program concerning the legal 46
requirements and best practice recommendations for special education 47 Raised Bill No. 6883
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and transition services to be delivered through on-demand online 48
courses and, in the office's discretion, in person. 49
(c) The Commissioner of Education shall, within the limits of 50
available funds appropriated for the purpose of hiring staff, hire not 51
fewer than two full-time staff to carry out the duties of the Office of 52
Transition Services set forth in subsection (a) of this section. 53
Sec. 2. Section 10-74n of the general statutes is repealed and the 54
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 55
(a) The State Board of Education and the Office of Transition Services, 56
established pursuant to section 1 of this act, in collaboration with the 57
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Developmental 58
Services and the Office of Workforce Strategy, shall: (1) Coordinate the 59
provision of transition resources, transition services and transition 60
programs, as those terms are defined in section 1 of this act, to children 61
requiring special education and related services, (2) [create, and update 62
as necessary, a fact sheet that lists the state agencies that provide 63
transition resources, services and programs and a brief description of 64
such transition resources, services and programs and] develop and 65
maintain an easily accessible and navigable online listing of the 66
transition resources, services and programs provided by such state 67
agency, including, but not limited to, for each resource, service and 68
program (A) a plain language description, (B) eligibility requirements, 69
and (C) application deadlines and instructions, (3) disseminate a notice 70
concerning such [fact sheet] online listing to local and regional boards 71
of education for distribution to parents, teachers, administrators and 72
boards of education, and [(3)] (4) annually collect information related to 73
transition resources, programs and services provided by other state 74
agencies. [and make such information available to parents, teachers, 75
administrators and boards of education.] 76
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, [2016] 2024, and each 77
school year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall distribute [the 78
information] a notice concerning the online listing described in 79 Raised Bill No. 6883
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subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to each local or regional 80
board of education. Each local or regional board of education shall 81
annually distribute such [information] notice to the parent of a child 82
requiring special education and related services in grades six to twelve, 83
inclusive, at a planning and placement team meeting for such child. As 84
used in this section, "parent" means the parent or guardian of a child 85
requiring special education or the surrogate parent or, in the case of a 86
pupil who is an emancipated minor or eighteen years of age or older, 87
the pupil. 88
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than January 1, 2024, 89
the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of 90
Developmental Services, the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and the 91
regional educational service centers, shall develop a training program 92
for transition coordinators, educators and school staff. Such training 93
program shall be in compliance with the minimum standards 94
established by the Office of Transition Services pursuant to section 1 of 95
this act. 96
(b) Each regional educational service center shall provide the training 97
program developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section at no cost 98
to transition coordinators, educators and school staff who provide 99
transition services or any educators and support staff interested in 100
becoming a transition coordinator or providing transition services. 101
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than January 1, 2024, 102
each local and regional board of education shall ensure that a transition 103
coordinator has been appointed, who may be the director of pupil 104
personnel or another employee of such board appointed as transition 105
coordinator by such director. Each transition coordinator shall (1) 106
complete the training program developed by the Department of 107
Education pursuant to section 3 of this act not later than three years after 108
the date when the regional educational service center that serves the 109
school district in which such transition coordinator is employed starts 110
providing such training program, but thereafter, each new transition 111
coordinator shall complete such training program not later than one 112 Raised Bill No. 6883
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year after being appointed, and (2) ensure that parents of students 113
requiring special education receive information concerning transition 114
resources, transition services or transition programs in accordance with 115
section 10-74n of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and are 116
aware of the eligibility requirements and application details of such 117
resources, services and programs that specifically apply to such student. 118
(b) Each educator and school staff who provides transition services 119
shall complete the training program developed by the Department of 120
Education pursuant to section 3 of this act not later than five years after 121
the date when the regional educational service center that serves the 122
school district in which such educator or school staff is employed starts 123
providing such training program, but thereafter, each new educator and 124
school staff who provides transition services shall complete such 125
training program not later than one year from the date such educator is 126
hired to provide such services. 127
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is 128
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 129
2023): 130
(b) In accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education, 131
each local and regional board of education shall: (1) Provide special 132
education for school-age children requiring special education who are 133
described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a. The 134
obligation of the school district under this subsection shall terminate 135
when such child is graduated from high school or the end of the school 136
year when such child reaches age [twenty-one] twenty-two, whichever 137
occurs first; and (2) provide special education for children requiring 138
special education who are described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of 139
subdivision (5) of section 10-76a. The State Board of Education shall 140
define the criteria by which each local or regional board of education 141
shall determine whether a given child is eligible for special education 142
pursuant to this subdivision, and such determination shall be made by 143
the board of education when requested by a parent or guardian, or upon 144
referral by a physician, clinic or social worker, provided the parent or 145 Raised Bill No. 6883
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guardian so permits. To meet its obligations under this subdivision, 146
each local or regional board of education may, with the approval of the 147
State Board of Education, make agreements with any private school, 148
agency or institution to provide the necessary preschool special 149
education program, provided such private facility has an existing 150
program which adequately meets the special education needs, 151
according to standards established by the State Board of Education, of 152
the preschool children for whom such local or regional board of 153
education is required to provide such an education and provided such 154
district does not have such an existing program in its public schools. 155
Such private school, agency or institution may be a facility which has 156
not been approved by the Commissioner of Education for special 157
education, provided such private facility is approved by the 158
commissioner as an independent school or licensed by the Office of 159
Early Childhood as a child care center, group child care home or family 160
child care home, as described in section 19a-77, or be both approved and 161
licensed. 162
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 10-76ll of the general statutes is 163
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 164
2023): 165
(b) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall draft 166
a written bill of rights for parents of children receiving special education 167
services to guarantee that the rights of such parents and children are 168
adequately safeguarded and protected during the provision of special 169
education and related services under this chapter. Such bill of rights 170
shall inform parents of: (1) The right to request consideration of the 171
provision of transition services for a child receiving special education 172
services who is eighteen to [twenty-one] twenty-two, inclusive, years of 173
age, (2) the right to receive transition resources and materials from the 174
department and the local or regional board of education responsible for 175
such child, (3) the requirement that the local or regional board of 176
education responsible for such child shall create a student success plan 177
for each student enrolled in a public school, beginning in grade six, 178
pursuant to subsection (j) of section 10-221a, and (4) the right of such 179 Raised Bill No. 6883
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child to receive realistic and specific postgraduation goals as part of 180
such child's individualized education program. 181
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 10-253 of the general statutes is 182
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 183
2023): 184
(a) Children placed out by the Commissioner of Children and 185
Families or by other agencies or persons, including offices of a 186
government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, private 187
child-caring or child-placing agencies licensed by the Department of 188
Children and Families, and eligible residents of facilities operated by the 189
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or by the 190
Department of Public Health who are eighteen to twenty-one years of 191
age or, for children requiring special education, twenty-two years of 192
age, shall be entitled to all free school privileges of the school district 193
where they then reside as a result of such placement, except as provided 194
in subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Except as provided 195
in subsection (d) of this section and subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of 196
section 10-76d, payment for such education shall be made by the board 197
of education of the school district under whose jurisdiction such child 198
would otherwise be attending school where such a school district is 199
identified. 200
Sec. 8. Subdivision (3) of subsection (h) of section 10-253 of the general 201
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 202
(Effective July 1, 2023): 203
(3) In each district, the liaison shall assist the school district, the Court 204
Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch and any relevant 205
educational service providers in ensuring that: 206
(A) All persons [under] twenty-two years of age or younger in justice 207
system custody are promptly evaluated for eligibility for special 208
education services, pursuant to section 17a-65 and any other applicable 209
law; 210 Raised Bill No. 6883
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(B) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 211
community from justice system custody are promptly enrolled in school 212
pursuant to this section and section 10-186; 213
(C) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 214
community from justice system custody receive appropriate credit for 215
school work completed in custody, pursuant to this section or section 216
10-220h; 217
(D) All relevant school records for students who enter justice system 218
custody and who return to the community from justice system custody 219
are promptly transferred to the appropriate school district or 220
educational service provider, pursuant to section 10-220h. 221
Sec. 9. Subdivision (2) of section 10-76a of the general statutes is 222
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 223
2023): 224
(2) "Child" means any person [under] twenty-two years of age or 225
younger. 226
Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 10-76ff of the general statutes is 227
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 228
2023): 229
(b) (1) The planning and placement team, as part of an initial 230
evaluation, if appropriate, and as part of any reevaluations, shall review 231
existing evaluation data on the child, including evaluations and 232
information provided by the parent or guardian or the child, classroom-233
based assessments and observations and teacher and related services 234
provider observations. On the basis of such review, and input from the 235
child's parent or guardian, the planning and placement team shall 236
identify what additional data, if any, is needed to determine: (A) 237
Whether the child has a particular category of disability, or in the case 238
of a reevaluation, whether the child continues to have such a disability; 239
(B) the present levels of performance and educational needs of the child; 240
(C) whether the child needs special education and related services, or in 241 Raised Bill No. 6883
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the case of a reevaluation, whether the child continues to need special 242
education and related services or whether the child is able to be served 243
within the regular education program with existing supplemental 244
services, available in the school district; and (D) whether any additions 245
or modifications to the special education and related services are needed 246
to enable the child to meet the measurable annual goals set out in the 247
individualized education program of the child and to participate, as 248
appropriate, in the general curriculum. (2) The local or regional board 249
of education shall administer such tests and other evaluation materials 250
as may be needed to produce the data identified by the planning and 251
placement team pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. (3) If the 252
planning and placement team decides that no additional data is needed 253
to determine that the child continues to be a child requiring special 254
education and related services, the local or regional board of education 255
shall notify the parent or guardian of the child of (A) the decision and 256
the reasons for it, and (B) the right of the parent or guardian to request 257
an assessment to determine whether the child continues to be a child 258
requiring special education and related services. The local or regional 259
board of education shall not be required to conduct such an assessment 260
unless requested to do so by the parent or guardian of the child. (4) A 261
local or regional board of education shall evaluate a child identified as 262
requiring special education and related services, in accordance with this 263
section, prior to determining that such child no longer requires such 264
special education or related services, except that such evaluation shall 265
not be required before the termination of a child's eligibility for special 266
education due to graduation from high school with a regular education 267
diploma, or due to exceeding the age eligibility for a free appropriate 268
public education. [pursuant to state regulations.] For a child whose 269
eligibility for special education terminates due to graduation from high 270
school with a regular high school diploma or such child exceeds the age 271
of eligibility for a free appropriate public education, the local or regional 272
board of education shall provide the child with a summary of the child's 273
academic achievement and functional performance, which shall include 274
recommendations on how to assist the child in meeting the child's 275
postsecondary goals. 276 Raised Bill No. 6883
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Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The Department of Education 277
shall establish a competitive grant program to assist local and regional 278
boards of education and regional educational service centers to develop 279
and provide public transition programs, as defined in section 1 of this 280
act, that are innovative. 281
(b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the 282
Commissioner of Education at such time and on such forms as the 283
commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant 284
pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the 285
commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited 286
to, the following factors: (1) The innovate nature of the public transition 287
program; (2) the potential number of students served by the public 288
transition program; (3) the relative wealth of the applicant; and (4) the 289
number of school districts included in the grant application. 290
(c) If the commissioner finds that any grant awarded pursuant to this 291
section is being used for purposes that do not conform to the purposes 292
of this section, the commissioner may require repayment of the grant to 293
the state. 294
(d) Each grantee shall submit, at such time and in such form as the 295
commissioner prescribes, such reports and financial statements as are 296
required by the department, which shall include, but need not be limited 297
to, an evaluation of the public transition program and any new 298
recommendations for best practices for such programs. 299
Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2023) The State Education Resource Center, 300
established pursuant to section 10-357a of the general statutes, shall 301
study each public transition program, as defined in section 1 of this act. 302
Such study shall examine aspects of each public transition program, 303
including, but not limited to, the following: (1) The types of transition 304
services, as defined in section 1 of this act, provided in such program, 305
(2) the number and qualifications of the staff providing such transition 306
services, (3) the location of such program relative to the residence of the 307
student or the student's family, and (4) any metrics for measuring the 308 Raised Bill No. 6883
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performance of such program, such as student and family feedback and 309
the placement of students in employment, postsecondary education or 310
training or programs for adults. Not later than January 1, 2024, the State 311
Education Resource Center shall submit, in accordance with the 312
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 313
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 314
relating to education a report of its findings, including, but not limited 315
to, a list of best practices and innovative programs. 316
Sec. 13. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the 317
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 318
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 319
(10) (A) Each local and regional board of education responsible for 320
providing special education and related services to a child or pupil shall 321
notify the parent or guardian of a child who requires or who may 322
require special education, a pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor 323
or eighteen years of age or older who requires or who may require 324
special education or a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 325
10-94g, in writing, at least five school days before such board proposes 326
to, or refuses to, initiate or change the child's or pupil's identification, 327
evaluation or educational placement or the provision of a free 328
appropriate public education to the child or pupil. 329
(B) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent, 330
the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide such 331
parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent an opportunity to meet with 332
a member of the planning and placement team designated by such 333
board prior to the referral planning and placement team meeting at 334
which the assessments and evaluations of the child or pupil who 335
requires or may require special education is presented to such parent, 336
guardian, pupil or surrogate parent for the first time. Such meeting shall 337
be for the sole purpose of discussing the planning and placement team 338
process and any concerns such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate 339
parent has regarding the child or pupil who requires or may require 340
special education. 341 Raised Bill No. 6883
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(C) Such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent shall (i) be given 342
at least five school days' prior notice of any planning and placement 343
team meeting conducted for such child or pupil, (ii) have the right to be 344
present at and participate in all portions of such meeting at which an 345
educational program for such child or pupil is developed, reviewed or 346
revised, (iii) have the right to have (I) advisors of such person's own 347
choosing and at such person's own expense, (II) the school 348
paraprofessional assigned to such child or pupil, if any, [and] (III) such 349
child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator, if any, and (IV) a 350
translator, automatically provided by the responsible local or regional 351
board of education if there is an apparent need or upon the request of 352
such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent, attend and participate 353
in all portions of such meeting at which an educational program for such 354
child or pupil is developed, reviewed or revised, and (iv) have the right 355
to have each recommendation made in such child or pupil's birth-to-356
three individualized transition plan, as required by section 17a-248e, if 357
any, addressed by the planning and placement team during such 358
meeting at which an educational program for such child or pupil is 359
developed. 360
(D) Immediately upon the formal identification of any child as a child 361
requiring special education and at each planning and placement team 362
meeting for such child, the responsible local or regional board of 363
education shall inform the parent or guardian of such child or surrogate 364
parent or, in the case of a pupil who is an emancipated minor or eighteen 365
years of age or older, the pupil of (i) the laws relating to special 366
education, (ii) the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or 367
pupil under such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board 368
of Education relating to special education, including the right of a 369
parent, guardian or surrogate parent to (I) withhold from enrolling such 370
child in kindergarten, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-371
184, and (II) have advisors and the school paraprofessional assigned to 372
such child or pupil attend and participate in all portions of such meeting 373
at which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, 374
reviewed or revised, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph 375 Raised Bill No. 6883
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(C) of this subdivision, and (iii) any relevant information and resources 376
relating to individualized education programs created by the 377
Department of Education, including, but not limited to, information 378
relating to transition resources and services for high school students. If 379
such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil does not attend a 380
planning and placement team meeting, the responsible local or regional 381
board of education shall mail such information to such person. Each 382
responsible local or regional board of education shall provide a child or 383
pupil's individualized education program, any documents relating to 384
such program and all the information required pursuant to this 385
subparagraph translated to the primary language spoken by such 386
parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil automatically if there is an 387
apparent need or upon the request of the parent guardian, surrogate 388
parent or pupil. 389
(E) Each local and regional board of education shall have in effect at 390
the beginning of each school year an educational program for each child 391
or pupil who has been identified as eligible for special education. 392
(F) (i) At each initial planning and placement team meeting for a child 393
or pupil, the responsible local or regional board of education shall 394
inform the parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil of [(i)] the laws 395
relating to physical restraint and seclusion pursuant to section 10-236b 396
and the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil under 397
such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board of Education 398
relating to physical restraint and seclusion, and [(ii)] the right of such 399
parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil, during such meeting at 400
which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, to 401
have (I) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator attend 402
and participate in all portions of such meeting, and (II) each 403
recommendation made in the transition plan, as required by section 17a-404
248e, by such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator 405
addressed by the planning and placement team. 406
(ii) At the first planning and placement team meeting when a child or 407
pupil reaches the age of seventeen, the responsible local or regional 408 Raised Bill No. 6883
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board of education shall inform the parent, guardian or surrogate parent 409
of any child who may have an intellectual disability, as defined in 410
section 1-1g, of the laws relating to becoming a conservator for such 411
child through application to a probate court. 412
(iii) Each responsible local or regional board of education shall 413
provide the notice created by the Office of Mediation Services pursuant 414
to subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of section 18 of this act to each parent, 415
guardian or surrogate parent of any child who requires special 416
education by (I) distributing such notice to such parents, guardians or 417
surrogate parents at the beginning of each school year, and (II) reading 418
such notice out loud at the conclusion of the first planning and 419
placement team meeting at the beginning of each school year. 420
(G) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent, 421
the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide the 422
results of the assessments and evaluations used in the determination of 423
eligibility for special education for a child or pupil to such parent, 424
guardian, surrogate parent or pupil at least three school days before the 425
referral planning and placement team meeting at which such results of 426
the assessments and evaluations will be discussed for the first time. 427
(H) Each local or regional board of education shall monitor the 428
development of each child who, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 429
17a-248e, has been (i) referred for a registration on a mobile application 430
designated by the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in partnership 431
with such child's parent, guardian or surrogate parent, or (ii) provided 432
a form for such child's parent, guardian or surrogate parent to complete 433
and submit to such local or regional board of education that screens for 434
developmental and social-emotional delays using a validated screening 435
tool, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages 436
Social-Emotional Questionnaire, or its equivalent. If such monitoring 437
results in suspecting a child of having a developmental delay, the board 438
shall schedule a planning and placement team meeting with such child's 439
parent, guardian or surrogate parent for the purposes of identifying 440
services for which such child may be eligible, including, but not limited 441 Raised Bill No. 6883
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to, a preschool program under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities 442
Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq. If a parent, guardian or surrogate parent of any 443
child referred for a registration on the mobile application or provided a 444
form to complete and submit, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 17a-445
248e, fails to complete such registration or complete and submit such 446
form after a period of six months from the date of such referral or 447
provision of such form, the board shall send a reminder, in the form and 448
manner determined by the board, to such parent, guardian or surrogate 449
parent to complete such registration or complete and submit such form. 450
The board shall send another reminder after a period of one year from 451
such referral or provision of such form if such registration remains 452
incomplete or such form is not submitted. 453
(I) Prior to any planning and placement team meeting for a child or 454
pupil in which an educational program for such child or pupil is 455
developed, reviewed or revised, if the parent, guardian, pupil or 456
surrogate parent has requested that the school paraprofessional 457
assigned to such child or pupil attend such meeting, then the 458
responsible local or regional board of education shall provide (i) 459
adequate notice of such meeting to such school paraprofessional so that 460
such school paraprofessional may adequately prepare for such meeting, 461
and (ii) training, upon request of such school paraprofessional, on the 462
role of such school paraprofessional at such meeting. Following such 463
meeting, such school paraprofessional, or any other paraprofessional 464
who is providing special education or related services to such child, 465
shall be permitted to view such educational program in order to be able 466
to provide special education or related services to such child or pupil in 467
accordance with such educational program. 468
Sec. 14. Subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the 469
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 470
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 471
(9) (A) The planning and placement team shall, in accordance with 472
the provisions of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 473
USC 1400, et seq., as amended from time to time, develop and include a 474 Raised Bill No. 6883
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statement of transition service needs in the individualized education 475
program for each child requiring special education, beginning not later 476
than the first individualized education program to be in effect when 477
such child becomes fourteen years of age, or younger if the planning 478
and placement team determines it is appropriate. Such individualized 479
education program shall include [(A)] (i) appropriate measurable 480
postsecondary goals based upon age -appropriate transition 481
assessments related to training, education, employment and, where 482
appropriate, independent living skills; and [(B)] (ii) the transition 483
services, including courses of study, needed to assist such child in 484
reaching those goals. Such individualized education program shall be 485
updated annually thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this 486
subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring 487
the Department of Aging and Disability Services to lower the age of 488
transitional services for a child with disabilities from sixteen to fourteen 489
years of age. 490
(B) At the first planning and placement team meeting when a child 491
reaches the age of fourteen and has a statement of transition service 492
needs included in such child's individualized education program 493
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the planning and 494
placement team shall, for each transition program, as defined in section 495
1 of this act, and each program for adults for which such child may be 496
eligible after graduation, (i) notify the state agency that provides such 497
program about the potential eligibility of such child upon the approval 498
of the parent or guardian of such child, or a surrogate parent of such 499
child appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, or such child if such child is 500
an emancipated minor, and (ii) provide such parent, guardian, 501
surrogate parent or child a listing of such programs that includes, but is 502
not limited to, (I) a plain language description of such program, (II) 503
eligibility requirements for such program, and (III) deadlines and 504
instructions for applications to such programs. 505
(C) Not later than the planning and placement team meeting that 506
occurs approximately two years prior to a child's anticipated graduation 507
from high school or the end of the school year in which a child will reach 508 Raised Bill No. 6883
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twenty-two years of age, whichever is expected to occur first based on 509
such child's individualized education program, the planning and 510
placement team shall (i) upon the approval of the parent or guardian of 511
such child, or a surrogate parent of such child appointed pursuant to 512
section 10-94g or such child if such child is an emancipated minor, (I) 513
notify any state agency that provides a program for adults for which 514
such child may be eligible about the potential eligibility of such child, 515
(II) invite a representative from each such agency to attend the planning 516
and placement team meeting for the purpose of establishing contact 517
with and counseling the parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child on 518
the process for the anticipated transfer of services upon such child 519
graduating from high school or upon the end of the school year in which 520
such child reaches twenty-two years of age, whichever is sooner, and 521
(III) permit and facilitate contact and coordination between each such 522
agency and such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child for the 523
purpose of easing the process for the transfer of services, (ii) provide 524
such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child a listing of each 525
program for adults for which such child may be eligible that includes, 526
but is not limited to, (I) a plain language description of such program, 527
(II) eligibility requirements for such program, and (III) deadlines and 528
instructions for applications to such programs, and (iii) assist such 529
parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child in completing an application 530
to any such programs. 531
Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Department of 532
Developmental Services shall assist any child who is determined to be 533
potentially eligible for services from the department by such child's 534
planning and placement team pursuant to subparagraph (B) of 535
subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the general statutes, 536
as amended by this act, to secure and maintain suitable employment 537
during the summer. 538
Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Department of 539
Developmental Services and the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services shall 540
each employ a sufficient number of employees to provide case 541
management or benefit counseling services for children requiring 542 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 18 of 30
special education who may be eligible to receive services from the 543
department or bureau as determined by a planning and placement team 544
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 545
10-76d of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 546
Sec. 17. (Effective July 1, 2023) The Auditors of Public Accounts shall 547
study the level of cooperation between state agencies that provide 548
transition services, as defined in section 1 of this act. Such study shall 549
include, but not be limited to, the examination of any barriers to 550
cooperation between such agencies and any inefficiencies in the system 551
for the provision of transition services by such agencies. Not later than 552
January 1, 2024, the Auditors of Public Accounts shall submit a report, 553
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 554
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 555
cognizance of matters relating to education. Such report shall include, 556
but need not be limited to, suggestions to improve the cooperation 557
between such agencies and the outcomes for recipients of such services. 558
Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) There is established an Office 559
of Mediation Services within the Department of Education's Bureau of 560
Special Education which shall be separate and distinct from any 561
investigatory or enforcement functions of the department. The Office of 562
Mediation Services shall (1) expand the mediation services offered by 563
the department in lieu of proceeding directly to a special education 564
hearing pursuant to section 10-76h of the general statutes, as amended 565
by this act, (2) oversee and coordinate such mediation services for each 566
school district in the state, (3) maintain a list of special education 567
mediators that meet the minimum training requirements set forth in 568
subsection (c) of this section and are of a sufficient quantity to meet the 569
needs of each school district in the state, (4) promote the benefits of 570
mediation to each local or regional board of education and to parents, 571
guardians and advocacy groups, (5) solicit feedback from local and 572
regional boards of education, parents and guardians about the 573
mediation process through an annual open meeting, after the conclusion 574
of any mediation and in any other manner as determined by the office, 575
(6) establish and publish on its Internet web site (A) a statement of the 576 Raised Bill No. 6883
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impartiality of mediators and the confidentiality of matters discussed in 577
mediation, which shall include, but not be limited to, a statement that 578
no employees of the office or mediators on the list of special education 579
mediators may share information from any mediation with the 580
employees of the department tasked with investigatory or enforcement 581
functions unless required by state or federal law, and (B) a plain 582
language resource explaining the mediation process and how to request 583
and prepare for a mediation, which shall be translated into the most 584
commonly spoken languages in the state, and (7) create a notice of the 585
availability of mediation services that includes the link to the plain 586
language resource established pursuant to subparagraph (B) of 587
subdivision (6) of this subsection, which shall be translated into the most 588
commonly spoken languages in the state, for distribution by local or 589
regional boards of education to parents, guardians and surrogate 590
parents of children requiring special education pursuant to 591
subparagraph (F) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d 592
of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 593
(b) The Commissioner of Education shall, within the limits of 594
available funds appropriated for the purpose of hiring staff, hire one 595
full-time staff to carry out the duties of the Office of Mediation Services 596
set forth in this section and section 19 of this act. 597
(c) The Office of Mediation Services shall verify that each mediator 598
included on the list of special education mediators maintained by the 599
office completes (1) not less than forty hours of training in mediation 600
skills through a module or course that has been approved by the office, 601
and (2) training in special education law for a minimum number of 602
hours prescribed by the office through a module or course provided by 603
the Department of Education or by another provider approved by the 604
office. The office may, in its discretion, waive one such training 605
requirement for any applicant for inclusion on the list of special 606
education mediators who (A) submits proof of completion of a forty-607
hour mediation skills training or an equivalent course of study related 608
to mediation skills from an institution of higher education for waiver of 609
the mediation skill training requirement, or (B) has sufficient and direct 610 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 20 of 30
professional experience in special education law or submits proof of 611
completion of a comparable course of study related to special education 612
law from an institution of higher education for waiver of the special 613
education law training requirement. Each mediator approved by the 614
office for inclusion on the list of special education mediators shall 615
complete at least two hours of continuing education every two years in 616
subject areas prescribed by the office which may be provided by the 617
Department of Education or any other organization approved by the 618
office. Each mediator shall remain impartial and maintain the 619
confidentiality of any matter discussed during mediation. 620
(d) The Office of Mediation Services shall exempt five mediators who 621
conducted special education mediation for the Department of Education 622
prior to July 1, 2023, from the initial training requirements set forth in 623
subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this section and include such 624
mediators on the list of special education mediators maintained by the 625
office pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. 626
Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) A parent or guardian of a 627
child requiring special education and related services, pursuant to 628
sections 10-76a to 10-76g, inclusive, of the general statutes, a child if such 629
child is an emancipated minor or eighteen years of age or older 630
requiring such services, a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to 631
section 10-94g of the general statutes, the Commissioner of Children and 632
Families, or a designee of said commissioner, on behalf of any such child 633
in the custody of said commissioner or the local or regional board of 634
education responsible for providing special education and related 635
services for a child, may request a mediation through the Office of 636
Mediation Services, established pursuant to section 18 of this act, at any 637
time for any matter related to the provision of special education for a 638
child, including, but not limited to, identification, evaluation, 639
educational placement or implementation of an individualized 640
education program. 641
(b) Upon receipt of a request for a mediation, the Office of Mediation 642
Services shall provide notification to the requester of such mediation 643 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 21 of 30
and any other parties subject to the request of such mediation (1) that a 644
conflict exists between such parties, (2) about the mediation process, 645
including, but not limited to, stating that mediation is voluntary, 646
facilitated by a neutral mediator and nonbinding, and (3) to invite all 647
parties to participate in mediation. The office shall provide a translator 648
at the mediation upon the request of any party. 649
Sec. 20. Section 10-76h of the general statutes is repealed and the 650
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 651
(a) (1) A parent or guardian of a child requiring special education and 652
related services pursuant to sections 10-76a to 10-76g, inclusive, as 653
amended by this act, a pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor or 654
eighteen years of age or older requiring such services, a surrogate parent 655
appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, or the Commissioner of Children 656
and Families, or a designee of said commissioner, on behalf of any such 657
child in the custody of said commissioner, may request a hearing of the 658
local or regional board of education or the unified school district 659
responsible for providing such services whenever such board or district 660
proposes or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation or 661
educational placement of or the provision of a free appropriate public 662
education to such child or pupil. Such request shall be made by sending 663
a written request to such board or district with a copy to the Department 664
of Education. 665
(2) The local or regional board of education or the unified school 666
district responsible for providing special education and related services 667
for a child or pupil requiring such services under sections 10-76a to 10-668
76g, inclusive, as amended by this act, may request, upon written notice 669
to the parent or guardian of such child, the pupil if such pupil is an 670
emancipated minor or is eighteen years of age or older, the surrogate 671
parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, or the Commissioner of 672
Children and Families, or a designee of said commissioner, on behalf of 673
any such child or pupil in the custody of said commissioner, a hearing 674
concerning the decision of the planning and placement team established 675
pursuant to section 10-76d, as amended by this act, whenever such 676 Raised Bill No. 6883
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board or district proposes or refuses to initiate or change the 677
identification, evaluation or educational placement of or the provision 678
of a free appropriate public education placement to such child or pupil, 679
including, but not limited to, refusal of the parent or guardian, pupil if 680
such pupil is an emancipated minor or is eighteen years of age or older 681
or the surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, to give 682
consent for initial evaluation or reevaluation or the withdrawal of such 683
consent. The local or regional board of education or unified school 684
district shall provide a copy of the request to the Department of 685
Education. In the event a planning and placement team proposes private 686
placement for a child or pupil who requires or may require special 687
education and related services and the parent, guardian, pupil if such 688
pupil is an emancipated minor or is eighteen years of age or older or 689
surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g withholds or 690
revokes consent for such placement, the local or regional board of 691
education shall request a hearing in accordance with this section and 692
may request mediation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, 693
provided such action may be taken only in the event such parent, 694
guardian, pupil or surrogate parent has consented to the initial receipt 695
of special education and related services and subsequent to the initial 696
placement of the child, the local or regional board of education seeks a 697
private placement. For purposes of this section, a "local or regional 698
board of education or unified school district" includes any public agency 699
which is responsible for the provision of special education and related 700
services to children requiring special education and related services. 701
(3) The request for a hearing shall contain a statement of the specific 702
issues in dispute. 703
(4) A party shall have two years to request a hearing from the time 704
the board of education proposed or refused to initiate or change the 705
identification, evaluation or educational placement or the provision of a 706
free appropriate public education placement to such child or pupil 707
provided, if the parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent is not given 708
notice of the procedural safeguards, in accordance with regulations 709
adopted by the State Board of Education, including notice of the 710 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 23 of 30
limitations contained in this section, such two-year limitation shall be 711
calculated from the time notice of the safeguards is properly given. 712
(b) Upon receipt of a written request for a special education hearing 713
made in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Department 714
of Education shall appoint an impartial hearing officer who shall 715
schedule a hearing which shall be held and the decision written and 716
mailed not later than forty-five days after the commencement of the 717
hearing pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 718
USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time. An extension of the 719
forty-five-day time limit may be granted by the hearing officer at the 720
request of either party to the hearing. 721
(c) (1) The Department of Education shall provide training to hearing 722
officers in administrative hearing procedures, including due process, 723
and in the special educational needs of children. Hearing officers and 724
members of hearing boards shall not be employees of the Department 725
of Education or any local or regional board of education, unified school 726
district or public agency involved in the education or care of the child. 727
A person who is paid to serve as a hearing officer is not deemed to be 728
an employee of the Department of Education. No person who 729
participated in the previous identification, evaluation or educational 730
placement of or the provision of a free appropriate public education to 731
the child or pupil nor any member of the board of education of the 732
school district under review, shall be a hearing officer or a member of a 733
hearing board. 734
(2) Both parties shall participate in a prehearing conference to resolve 735
the issues in dispute, if possible and narrow the scope of the issues. Each 736
party to the hearing shall disclose, not later than five business days prior 737
to the date the hearing commences, (A) documentary evidence such 738
party plans to present at the hearing and a list of witnesses such party 739
plans to call at the hearing, and (B) all completed evaluations and 740
recommendations based on the offering party's evaluations that the 741
party intends to use at the hearing. Except for good cause shown, the 742
hearing officer shall limit each party to such documentary evidence and 743 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 24 of 30
witnesses as were properly disclosed and are relevant to the issues in 744
dispute. A hearing officer may bar any party who fails to comply with 745
the requirements concerning disclosure of evaluations and 746
recommendations from introducing any undisclosed evaluation or 747
recommendation at the hearing without the consent of the other party. 748
(3) The hearing officer or board shall hear testimony relevant to the 749
issues in dispute offered by the party requesting the hearing and any 750
other party directly involved, and may hear any additional testimony 751
the hearing officer or board deems relevant. The hearing officer or board 752
shall hear the testimony offered by the local or regional board of 753
education or the unified school district responsible for providing special 754
education to a child or pupil first in any dispute concerning the 755
provision of free appropriate public education. The hearing officer or 756
board may require a complete and independent evaluation or 757
prescription of educational programs by qualified persons, the cost of 758
which shall be paid by the board of education or the unified school 759
district. The hearing officer or board shall cause all formal sessions of 760
the hearing and review to be recorded in order to provide a verbatim 761
record. 762
(d) (1) The hearing officer or board shall have the authority (A) to 763
confirm, modify, or reject the identification, evaluation or educational 764
placement of or the provision of a free appropriate public education to 765
the child or pupil, (B) to determine the appropriateness of an 766
educational placement where the parent or guardian of a child requiring 767
special education or the pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor or 768
eighteen years of age or older, has placed the child or pupil in a program 769
other than that prescribed by the planning and placement team, or (C) 770
to prescribe alternate special educational programs for the child or 771
pupil. If the parent or guardian of such a child who previously received 772
special education and related services from the district enrolls the child, 773
or the pupil who previously received special education and related 774
services from the district enrolls in a private elementary or secondary 775
school without the consent of or referral by the district, a hearing officer 776
may, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 777 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 25 of 30
20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time, require the district 778
to reimburse the parents or the pupil for the cost of that enrollment if 779
the hearing officer finds that the district had not made a free appropriate 780
public education available to the child or pupil in a timely manner prior 781
to that enrollment. In the case where a parent or guardian, or pupil if 782
such pupil is an emancipated minor or is eighteen years of age or older, 783
or a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, has refused 784
consent for initial evaluation or reevaluation, the hearing officer or 785
board may order an initial evaluation or reevaluation without the 786
consent of such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent except that 787
if the parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent appeals such decision 788
pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, the child or pupil may not 789
be evaluated or placed pending the disposition of the appeal. The 790
hearing officer or board shall inform the parent or guardian, or the 791
emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older, or the 792
surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, or the 793
Commissioner of Children and Families, as the case may be, and the 794
board of education of the school district or the unified school district of 795
the decision in writing and mail such decision not later than forty-five 796
days after the commencement of the hearing pursuant to the Individuals 797
with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from 798
time to time, except that a hearing officer or board may grant specific 799
extensions of such forty-five-day period in order to comply with the 800
provisions of subsection (b) of this section. The hearing officer may 801
include in the decision a comment on the conduct of the proceedings. 802
The findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision shall be written 803
without personally identifiable information concerning such child or 804
pupil, so that such decisions may be promptly indexed and published 805
and available for public inspections pursuant to sections 4-167 and 4-806
180a. 807
(2) If the local or regional board of education or the unified school 808
district responsible for providing special education for such child or 809
pupil requiring special education does not take action on the findings or 810
prescription of the hearing officer or board within fifteen days after 811 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 26 of 30
receipt thereof, the State Board of Education shall take appropriate 812
action to enforce the findings or prescriptions of the hearing officer or 813
board. Such action may include application to the Superior Court for 814
injunctive relief to compel such local or regional board or school district 815
to implement the findings or prescription of the hearing officer or board 816
without the necessity of establishing irreparable harm or inadequate 817
remedy at law. 818
(3) If the hearing officer or board upholds the local or regional board 819
of education or the unified school district responsible for providing 820
special education and related services for such child or pupil who 821
requires or may require special education on the issue of evaluation, 822
reevaluation or placement in a private school or facility, such board or 823
district may evaluate or provide such services to the child or pupil 824
without the consent of the parent or guardian, pupil if such pupil is an 825
emancipated minor or is eighteen years of age or older, or the surrogate 826
parent appointed pursuant to section 10-94g, subject to an appeal 827
pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection. 828
(4) Appeals from the decision of the hearing officer or board shall be 829
taken in the manner set forth in section 4-183, except the court shall hear 830
additional evidence at the request of a party. Notwithstanding the 831
provisions of section 4-183, such appeal shall be taken to the judicial 832
district wherein the child or pupil resides. In the event of an appeal, 833
upon request and at the expense of the State Board of Education, said 834
board shall supply a copy of the transcript of the formal sessions of the 835
hearing officer or board to the parent or guardian or the emancipated 836
minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older or surrogate parent or said 837
commissioner and to the board of education of the school district or the 838
unified school district. 839
(e) Hearing officers and members of the hearing board shall be paid 840
reasonable fees and expenses as established by the State Board of 841
Education. 842
(f) (1) In lieu of proceeding directly to a hearing, pursuant to 843 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 27 of 30
subsection (a) of this section, [the parties] any party may [agree in 844
writing to request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a state 845
mediator] request mediation through the Office of Mediation Services, 846
established pursuant to section 18 of this act. Upon the receipt of a 847
[written] request for mediation, [signed by both parties, the 848
commissioner] the office shall appoint a mediator, [knowledgeable in 849
the fields and areas significant to the review of the special educational 850
needs of the child or pupil] in accordance with section 19 of this act, and 851
invite all parties to a mediation with a person selected from the list of 852
special education mediators maintained by said office. The mediator 853
shall attempt to resolve the issues in a manner which is acceptable to the 854
parties. The mediator shall certify in writing to the [Department of 855
Education] office and to the parties whether the mediation was 856
successful or unsuccessful. 857
(2) If the dispute is not resolved through mediation, [either] any party 858
may proceed to a hearing. 859
(g) The Department of Education shall establish and publish on its 860
Internet web site a plain language resource explaining (1) the process by 861
which the department resolves complaints, and (2) the hearing process 862
established pursuant to this section and how to request and prepare for 863
a hearing, both of which shall be translated into the most commonly 864
spoken languages in the state. 865
Sec. 21. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Department of Education 866
shall initiate a program of overseeing the implementation of the 867
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as 868
amended from time to time, in school districts throughout the state. 869
Under such program, the department shall conduct audits of special 870
education programs in randomly selected school districts each year. 871
Such audits shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) interviewing 872
teachers and staff who provide special education services and parents 873
or guardians of children requiring special education, (2) conducting 874
unannounced on-site visits, and (3) reviewing individualized education 875
programs upon the approval of the parent or guardian of the child to 876 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 28 of 30
whom such individualized education program applies. 877
Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 10-220a of the general statutes is 878
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 879
2023): 880
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in-881
service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil 882
personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or 883
professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such 884
teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) 885
the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in 886
subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, to health and personality 887
development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health 888
and mental health risk reduction education that includes, but need not 889
be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the 890
relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually 891
transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in 892
section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence and 893
child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the 894
prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and 895
prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of 896
section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement 897
any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the 898
Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (c) of section 899
10-145a, sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 900
10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160, shall not be required 901
to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of 902
and response to bullying, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other 903
emergency life saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations 904
of a mandated reporter, (6) the detection and recognition of, and 905
evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with 906
dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d, (7) culturally responsive pedagogy 907
and practice, including, but not limited to, the video training module 908
relating to implicit bias and anti-bias in the hiring process in accordance 909
with the provisions of section 10-156hh, [and] (8) the principles and 910 Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 29 of 30
practices of social-emotional learning and restorative practices, and (9) 911
the laws governing the implementation of planning and placement team 912
meetings and concerning plans pursuant to Section 504 of the 913
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time. Each local or 914
regional board of education may allow any paraprofessional or 915
noncertified employee to participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-916
service training program provided pursuant to this section. 917
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 2 January 1, 2024 10-74n
Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 10-76d(b)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 10-76ll(b)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2023 10-253(a)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 10-253(h)(3)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 10-76a(2)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2023 10-76ff(b)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 12 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 13 July 1, 2023 10-76d(a)(10)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2023 10-76d(a)(9)
Sec. 15 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 16 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 17 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 18 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 19 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 20 July 1, 2023 10-76h
Sec. 21 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 22 July 1, 2023 10-220a(a)
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) establish an Office of Transition Services and an Office of
Mediation Services within the Department of Education, (2) increase the
age until which a student can receive special education services from
twenty-one to twenty-two, (3) allow translators to attend planning and
placement team meetings and for the individualized education program Raised Bill No. 6883
LCO No. 5753 30 of 30
and other documents to be translated to the primary language of the
student or family, (4) require coordination with agencies that provide
programs for adults when a student turns fourteen years old, (5) require
the publication of a plain language resource explaining the process for
hearing complaints and of the decisions made from complaint hearings,
(6) require the Department of Education to conduct random audits of
special education programs, and (7) require the development of
educator in-service training on the laws governing planning and
placement team meetings.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]