SLS 22RS-545 ENGROSSED
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 state 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 state Department of
4 Education, to study the level of supports statewide for students with special needs and
5 exceptionalities through an examination of the ratio of service providers to students and the
6 impact on 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 executive director of the Autism Society of North
10 Louisiana.
11 (2) The executive director of the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, or his
12 designee.
13 (3) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana School Psychological
14 Association, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in school psychology.
15 (4) Two members appointed by the president of Speech Pathologists and
16 Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in speech
17 pathology.
18 (5) The statewide director of Families Helping Families, or his designee.
19 (6) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the
20 National Association of Social Workers, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer.
21 (7) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Behavior Analysis
22 Association, one of whom shall be a graduate trainer in applied behavior analysis.
23 (8) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana Association of Special
24 Education Administrators.
25 (9) Two members appointed by the president of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy
26 Association, one of whom shall be a school-based occupational therapist and one of whom
27 shall be an occupational therapist graduate trainer.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve
29 without compensation, except per diem or reimbursement of expenses to which they may be
30 individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
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1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
2 constitute a quorum of the commission and any official action by the commission shall
3 require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the members chosen, designated,
5 or appointed pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the state superintendent of
6 education by August 15, 2022.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall hold its organizational
8 meeting not later than September 15, 2022, on the call of the state superintendent of
9 education. At the organizational meeting, the commission shall elect a chairman, a vice
10 chairman, and any other officers as it finds necessary and shall adopt rules for its own
11 procedure.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may seek input, information,
13 and data from any persons, agencies, entities, or stakeholders that it deems necessary to
14 fulfill the purposes of this Resolution.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be domiciled in Baton
16 Rouge, Louisiana, but may meet elsewhere in the state. The state Department of Education
17 shall provide staff support to the commission and may coordinate with and receive assistance
18 from local nonprofit autism advocacy and support groups.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the commission shall study and make
20 recommendations for legislation and policy affecting the education of students with special
21 needs and exceptionalities. In carrying out the study, the commission shall:
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 state superintendent of education, the Autism Society of North Louisiana, the Governor's
12 Office of Disability Affairs, the Louisiana School Psychological Association, Speech
13 Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Families Helping Families, the
14 Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Louisiana Behavior
15 Analysis Association, the Louisiana Association of Special Education Administrators, and
16 the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SCR 31 Engrossed 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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