HCS SB 42 -- SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

SPONSOR:  Days (Muschany)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children
and Families by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding special education
services.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires school districts and special school districts to
engage in a planning process to provide special education and
related services for handicapped children three to four years of
age by coordinating with public, private, and private
not-for-profit agencies;

(2)  Specifies that school districts providing early childhood
special education must continue services at the parent's request,
with Part C providers under the federal Individuals with
Disablities Act for the remainder of the school year when
developing an individualized educational program for a student,
unless this would result in a cost which exceeds the district's
costs of providing that same service;

(3)  Removes the provision which specifies that a preference will
be given to the continuation of services with the student's
provider unless the average per-student cost of the early
childhood education in the district is exceeded;

(4)  Requires parents to notify a school district six months
prior to their child's third birthday to allow the district to
plan for appropriate staffing needs; and

(5)  Requires that school districts give Part C providers an
opportunity to adjust its charges so that they are less than the
district's cost of providing that same service.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Income on General Revenue Fund of $0 to
Unknown in FY 2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill will allow special education
students to continue to receive First Steps services for the
remainder of the school year.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Days; Missouri State
Teachers Association; Missouri Nurses' Association; Missouri
School Boards Association; and Missouri National Education
Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm