HCS HB 236 -- STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

SPONSOR:  Wallace (Lipke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 14 to 0.

This substitute establishes Kaitlyn's Law, which requires each
school district with a high school to develop policies and
procedures that allow students with disabilities who have
completed four years of high school to participate in their
graduation ceremony and other related activities under certain
circumstances.  The policies and procedures must be given to
students with disabilities and their parents or guardians in a
timely and meaningful notice.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that some school districts will not
let an otherwise qualified student with an individualized
education plan (IEP) participate in graduation ceremonies if the
student requires further services after his or her senior year of
high school.  Students with IEPs who require additional services
may receive services up to age 21.  Some parents are forced to
choose between letting their child participate in graduation at
the loss of transition services or accept that their child cannot
participate in order to ensure access to further services.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lipke; Traci Ritter;
Kaitlyn Thompson; Missouri School Boards' Association; Diane
Golden, Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education;
Citizens for Missouri's Children; and Nancy S. Robertson.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am