SLS 22RS-545 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 31
BY SENATOR JACKSON
STUDENTS. Establishes the Related Services Advisory Commission to study the level of
supports statewide for students with special needs and exceptionalities.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To establish the Related Services Advisory Commission, within the Department of
3 Education, to study the level of supports statewide for students with special needs
4 and exceptionalities through an examination of the ratio of service providers to
5 students and the impact on service implementation.
6 WHEREAS, related services are the supportive services or activities necessary for
7 some students with special needs and exceptionalities to maximize their educational
8 outcomes; and
9 WHEREAS, any related service or support that helps a student to benefit from or
10 achieve the goals set out in his individualized educational program should be provided by
11 the appropriate related services personnel; and
12 WHEREAS, these related services, including but not limited to audiology,
13 psychological services, social work services, and early assessment of disabilities in children,
14 are critical and necessary and must be provided with the appropriate service provider to
15 student ratio; and
16 WHEREAS, the current guidelines in use for related services come from best
17 practices set decades ago and need to be updated to ensure each student with special needs
18 or exceptionalities is provided the appropriate resources and tools, including the proper
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1 professionals in the field, to best assist the student to achieve his full potential.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
3 establish the Related Services Advisory Commission, within the Department of Education,
4 to study the level of supports statewide for students with special needs and exceptionalities
5 through an examination of the ratio of service providers to students and the impact on
6 service implementation.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be comprised of the
8 following members:
9 (1) One member appointed by the director of the Autism Society of North Louisiana.
10 (2) The executive director of the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs or his
11 designee.
12 (3) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana School Psychological
13 Association, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in school psychology.
14 (4) Two members appointed by the president of Speech Pathologists and
15 Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in speech
16 pathology.
17 (5) The statewide director of Families Helping Families or his designee.
18 (6) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the
19 National Association of Social Workers, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer.
20 (7) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Behavior Analysis
21 Association, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in applied behavior analysis.
22 (8) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana Association of Special
23 Education Administrators.
24 (9) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy
25 Association, one of whom shall be a school-based occupational therapist and one of whom
26 shall be an occupational therapist graduate trainer.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve
28 without compensation, except per diem or reimbursement of expenses to which they may be
29 individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
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1 constitute a quorum of the commission and any official action by the commission shall
2 require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the members chosen, designated,
4 or appointed pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the Louisiana state
5 superintendent of education by August 15, 2022.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall hold its organizational
7 meeting not later than September 15, 2022, on the call of the Louisiana state superintendent
8 of education. At the organizational meeting, the commission shall elect a chairman, a vice
9 chairman, and any other officers as it finds necessary and shall adopt rules for its own
10 procedure.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may seek input, information,
12 and data from any persons, agencies, entities, or stakeholders that it deems necessary to
13 fulfill the purposes of this Resolution.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be domiciled in Baton
15 Rouge, Louisiana, but may meet elsewhere in the state. The Department of Education shall
16 provide staff support to the commission and may coordinate with and receive assistance
17 from local nonprofit autism advocacy and support groups.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the commission shall study and make
19 recommendations for legislation and policy affecting the education of students with special
20 needs and exceptionalities. In carrying out the study, the commission shall do all of the
21 following:
22 (1) Collect data on the ratios of service providers to students in Louisiana public
23 schools, including charter schools.
24 (2) Collect recommended ratios for successful service delivery found in the research
25 literature and recommended by professional associations.
26 (3) Collect student impact information based on service provider to student ratios.
27 (4) Collect information on training programs available in Louisiana for providers
28 of services for students with special needs and exceptionalities that are replenishing the field
29 and any barriers to entering or completing the programs.
30 (5) Update the defined roles of each provider as well as how these providers can
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1 collaborate to work together for students with special needs and exceptionalities.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall meet at least twice
3 between the 2022 and 2023 Regular Sessions of the Legislature and at least twice between
4 the 2023 and 2024 Regular Sessions of the Legislature.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall make a written report of
6 its findings to the legislature, including submission of one printed copy and one electronic
7 copy to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library, prior to the convening of the
8 2023 and 2024 Regular Sessions of the Legislature, together with any specific proposals for
9 legislation.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11 Louisiana state superintendent of education, the Autism Society of North Louisiana, the
12 Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, the Louisiana School Psychological Association,
13 Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Families Helping Families, and
14 the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SCR 31 Original 2022 Regular Session Jackson
Establishes the Related Services Advisory Commission, within the Department of Education,
to study the level of supports statewide for students with special needs and exceptionalities
and report the findings of the commission to the legislature prior to the convening of the
2023 and 2024 Regular Sessions of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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