SB 32, HCA 1 -- STATE FUNDING FOR CERTAIN DISABLED STUDENTS SPONSOR: Kinder (Merideth) COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 23 to 0. When students who are eligible to attend the State School for the Deaf or State School for the Blind attend a local district school, the district may bill the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for excess costs, subject to appropriation. HCA 1 -- Preserves Lee's Summit and Columbia school districts' current 3-year terms for school board members instead of going to 6-year terms upon becoming urban districts. (The definition of urban district is based on population.) FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of $750,000 in FY 2002, $772,500 in FY 2003, and $795,675 in FY 2004. Estimated Net Effect on State School Moneys Fund of $0 in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004. PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the bill makes it easier to provide special education services for deaf and blind students at local schools; there is a mandate to provide services in the least restrictive environment. Testifying for the bill were Senator Kinder; Missouri School Boards Association; and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative AnalystCopyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives