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2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 158
BY SENATOR DONAHUE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SPECIAL EDUCATION. Requires public school governing authorities to establish local
special education advisory councils. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:1944.1 and 3996(B)(54), relative to special education; to require each
3 public school governing authority to create a special education advisory council; to
4 provide relative to council membership and duties; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:1944.1 and 3996(B)(54) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §1944.1. Local special education advisory councils; creation; purpose
8 A. Not later than January 1, 2020, each public school governing
9 authority shall create a special education advisory council to provide advice and
10 feedback regarding special education policies, procedures, and resources. The
11 council shall also engage in outreach activities to the community at large to
12 increase the level of knowledge, support, and collaboration with respect to
13 special education.
14 B.(1)The number of council members shall be determined by the public
15 school governing authority. However, the council's membership shall be
16 composed as follows:
17 (a) Fifty percent of the membership shall be parents or legal guardians
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 158
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1 of students with an exceptionality, other than gifted and talented, who are
2 enrolled in a school under the jurisdiction of the public school governing
3 authority.
4 (b) Twenty-five percent of the membership shall be teachers, principals,
5 or paraprofessionals.
6 (c) Twenty-five percent of the membership shall be other special
7 education stakeholders.
8 (2)(a) Each school governing authority shall seek applications for council
9 membership from parents of students with an exceptionality other than gifted
10 and talented, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and other stakeholders.
11 (b) In selecting council members, an effort shall be made to include
12 parents of students in all grade levels.
13 C. Each special education advisory council shall meet at least three times
14 a year and shall submit a written report to the superintendent and the school
15 governing authority in May of each year regarding its activities.
16 * * *
17 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
18 A. * * *
19 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
20 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
21 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
22 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
23 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
24 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
25 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
26 * * *
27 (54) Special education advisory councils, R.S. 17:1944.1.
28 * * *
29 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 158
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1 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
2 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
3 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
4 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 158 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Donahue
Proposed law requires each public school governing authority to establish a special
education advisory council to provide advice and feedback regarding special education
policies, procedures, and resources and engage in community outreach, as follows:
(1)Each council must be created not later than January 1, 2020.
(2)The number of members shall be determined by the school governing authority and
the membership shall be composed as follows:
(a)50% of the membership shall be parents of students with an exceptionality,
other than gifted and talented.
(b)25% of the membership shall be teachers, principals, or paraprofessionals.
(c)25% of the membership shall be other special education stakeholders.
(3)Each public school governing authority shall seek applications for council
membership from parents of students with an exceptionality, teachers, principals,
paraprofessionals, and other stakeholders. Requires that an effort be made to include
parents of students in all grade levels.
(4)Each special education advisory council shall meet at least three times a year and
shall submit a written report to the superintendent and the public school governing
authority in May of each year regarding its activities.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:1944.1 and 3996(B)(54))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Revises council membership.
2. Reduces number of meetings and reports.
3. Clarifies that proposed law applies to charter school governing authorities.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.