2023 -- H 6377
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LC002942
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $600,000 FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE
OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO FACILITATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAM (IEP)/504 SERVICE PROGRAM
Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson
Date Introduced: May 05, 2023
Referred To: House Finance
WHEREAS, To assist special education planning teams reach agreements, facilitated 1
Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings are often a beneficial tool, that is in the best 2
interest of the student, and helps to avoid entering into a formal dispute resolution; and 3
WHEREAS, In order to guide the process successfully, an independent State 4
Ombudsman office with a trained IEP or 504 meeting Facilitator is essential to the process when 5
an impasse has arisen or meetings are expected to be contentious; and 6
WHEREAS, A facilitator helps keep members of the team focused on the development of 7
the IEP/504, and encourages cooperation and enhanced communication, while addressing 8
conflicts and disagreements that have occurred before or that may emerge during the meeting; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, Funding for an independent State Ombudsman office for a Facilitated 11
Individualized Education Program would provide for: 12
• A Program coordinator and scheduling assistant, to direct and manage 13
appropriation funding and Facilitator scheduling; 14
• IEP/504 Facilitator(s) and/or part-time Facilitator(s), based on the number of IEP 15
or 504 plans that may require facilitation, as recommended by RIDE; and 16
• A training program for Facilitators and members of IEP/504 teams to best utilize 17
the program; now, therefore be it 18
RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 19
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of six hundred thousand dollars 1
($600,000) for an independent State Ombudsman office to provide for a facilitated Individualized 2
Education Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders 3
upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time 4
to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. 5
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LC002942
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LC002942 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $600,000 FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE
OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO FACILITATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAM (IEP)/504 SERVICE PROGRAM
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This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $600,000 for an 1
independent State Ombudsman office to provide for a facilitated Individualized Education 2
Program. 3
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LC002942
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