HB 15 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to children with developmental delays; 2
amending s. 1003.01, F.S.; revising the definition of 3
the term "exceptional student" to include additional 4
students with developmental delays; amending s. 5
1003.21, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 6
by the act; providing an effective date. 7
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
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Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 11
1003.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 12
1003.01 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 13
(3)(a) "Exceptional student" means any student who has 14
been determined eligible for a special program in accordance 15
with rules of the State Board of Education. The term includes 16
students who are gifted and students with disabilities who have 17
an intellectual disability; autism spectrum disorder; a speech 18
impairment; a language impairment; an orthopedic impairment; an 19
other health impairment; tr aumatic brain injury; a visual 20
impairment; an emotional or behavioral disability; or a specific 21
learning disability, including, but not limited to, dyslexia, 22
dyscalculia, or developmental aphasia; students who are deaf or 23
hard of hearing or dual sensory im paired; students who are 24
hospitalized or homebound; children with developmental delays 25
HB 15 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0015-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
ages birth through 9 5 years or through the student's completion 26
of grade 2, whichever occurs first , or children, ages birth 27
through 2 years, with established conditions that are identified 28
in State Board of Education rules pursuant to s. 1003.21(1)(e). 29
Section 2. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 30
1003.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 31
1003.21 School attendance. — 32
(1) 33
(e) Consistent with rules ado pted by the State Board of 34
Education, children with disabilities who have attained the age 35
of 3 years shall be eligible for admission to public special 36
education programs and for related services. Children with 37
disabilities younger than 3 years of age who are deaf or hard of 38
hearing, visually impaired, dual sensory impaired, 39
orthopedically impaired, or other health impaired or who have 40
experienced traumatic brain injury, have autism spectrum 41
disorder, have established conditions, or exhibit developmental 42
delays or intellectual disabilities may be eligible for special 43
programs and may receive services in accordance with rules of 44
the State Board of Education. Rules for the identification of 45
established conditions for children birth through 2 years of age 46
and developmental delays for children birth through 9 5 years of 47
age or through the student's completion of grade 2, whichever 48
occurs first, must be adopted by the State Board of Education. 49
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 50