HLS 20RS-1046 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 762
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDMONSTON
EDUCATION/SPECIAL: Creates the Related Services Advisory Commission to study and
make recommendations relative to educational services for students with special
needs and exceptionalities
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:1960.1 and R.S. 36:651(G)(9) and to repeal R.S. 17:1960.1 and R.S.
3 36:651(G)(9), relative to students with exceptionalities; to establish the Related
4 Services Advisory Commission to study services for students with special needs and
5 exceptionalities; to provide relative to the membership and meetings of the
6 commission; to require the commission to study and make recommendations relative
7 to specific matters; to require the commission to report to the legislature and the
8 Board of Regents; to provide for the powers and duties of the commission; to provide
9 for termination of the commission; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 17:1960.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §1960.1. Related Services Advisory Commission
13 A. There is hereby created the Related Services Advisory Commission,
14 hereafter referred to as the "commission", for the purpose of studying the level of
15 supports statewide for students with special needs and exceptionalities through an
16 examination of the ratio of service providers to such students.
17 B.(1) The commission shall be composed of fifteen members as follows:
18 (a) One member appointed by the director of the Autism Society of North
19 Louisiana.
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1 (b) The director of the Governor's Office of Disabilities Affairs or his
2 designee.
3 (c) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana School
4 Psychological Association.
5 (d) One graduate trainer in school psychology appointed by the president of
6 the Louisiana School Psychological Association.
7 (e) One member appointed by the president of the board of directors of
8 Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools.
9 (f) One graduate trainer in speech pathology appointed by the president of
10 the board of directors of Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools.
11 (g) One director of Families Helping Families appointed by the director of
12 Families Helping Families of New Orleans or her designee.
13 (h) One school-based member appointed by the president of the Louisiana
14 chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
15 (i) One graduate trainer appointed by the president of the Louisiana chapter
16 of the National Association of Social Workers.
17 (j) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana Behavior
18 Analysis Association.
19 (k) One graduate trainer in Applied Behavior Analysis appointed by the
20 president of the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association.
21 (l) The director from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
22 who trains practitioners for the provision of school-based services.
23 (m) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana Association of
24 Special Education Administrators.
25 (n) One school-based occupational therapist appointed by the president of
26 Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association.
27 (o) One occupational therapist graduate trainer appointed by the president
28 of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association.
29 (2) Members may consult with experts with knowledge of educating students
30 with special needs and exceptionalities.
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1 (3) Members may establish working groups to carry out the commission's
2 duties.
3 (4) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.
4 (5) A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the
5 manner of the original appointment.
6 (6) The members of the commission shall elect a chairman and any other
7 officers deemed necessary from among the membership.
8 C. The Autism Society of North Louisiana shall provide staff support for the
9 commission.
10 D. The commission shall study and make recommendations for legislation
11 and policy affecting the education of students with special needs and
12 exceptionalities. At a minimum, the commission shall do all of the following:
13 (1) Collect data on the ratios of service providers to students in Louisiana
14 public schools, including charter schools.
15 (2) Collect recommended ratios for successful service delivery found in the
16 research literature and recommended by professional associations.
17 (3) Collect student impact information based on ratios.
18 (4) Collect information on training programs available in Louisiana for
19 providers of service to students with special needs and exceptionalities that are
20 replenishing the field and barriers to entering or completing the programs.
21 (5) Update the defined roles of each provider as well as how these providers
22 can collaborate for students with special needs and exceptionalities.
23 E.(1) Before the 2021 Regular Session of the Legislature, the commission
24 shall produce a report of its findings and recommendations. Before both the 2022
25 and the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature, the commission shall produce a
26 report on the status of the implementation of its recommendations. These reports
27 shall be provided to the governor, members of the legislature, the state
28 superintendent of education, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
29 Education, and the Board of Regents not later than thirty days prior to the first day
30 of each regular session.
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1 (2) The commission's recommendations shall include but need not be limited
2 to recommendations for increasing the number of providers qualified to provide
3 services to students and recommendations for teacher training programs to increase
4 the use of supports in the classroom.
5 F. The commission shall meet at least twice between the 2020 and 2021
6 Regular Sessions of the Legislature, at least twice between the 2021 and 2022
7 Regular Sessions of the Legislature, and at least twice between the 2022 and 2023
8 Regular Sessions of the Legislature.
9 G. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum
10 for the transaction of business. The commission shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge
11 but may hold public meetings elsewhere in the state.
12 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(G)(9) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department
14 of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
15 Education
16 * * *
17 G. The following agencies, as defined by R.S. 36:3, are transferred to and
18 hereafter shall be within the Department of Education as provided in Part III of
19 Chapter 22 of this Title:
20 * * *
21 (9) The Related Services Advisory Commission (R.S. 17:1960.1).
22 * * *
23 Section 3. R.S. 17:1960.1 and R.S. 36:351(G)(9) are hereby repealed in their
24entirety.
25 Section 4. Section 3 of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2023.
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 762 Original 2020 Regular Session Edmonston
Abstract: Creates the Related Services Advisory Commission to study the level of supports
statewide for students with special needs and exceptionalities.
Proposed law:
(1)Creates the Related Services Advisory Commission to study services for students
with special needs and exceptionalities.
(2)Provides for 15 members who shall serve without compensation and for staff support
by the Autism Society of North La.
(3)Requires commission to study and make recommendations for legislation and policy
affecting the education of students with special needs and exceptionalities and to
submit reports prior to the 2021, 2022, and 2023 R.S.
(4)Provides for termination of the commission on July 1, 2023.
(Adds R.S. 17:1960.1 and R.S. 36:651(G)(9); Repeals R.S. 17:1960.1 and R.S.
36:651(G)(9))
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