BILL NUMBER: S7192

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act providing that a student enrolled in an individualized education
plan during certain school years may continue to receive educational
services until the student completes the services pursuant to the indi-
vidualized education plan or turns twenty-three years of age, whichever
is sooner; and to provide for the repeal of such provisions upon the
expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure that those students with disabilities who "age out" during the
COVID-19 pandemic receive instruction and services necessary to compen-
sate for the negative impacts of the school closings and remote instruc-
tion due to COVID-19

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

              

Section 1 of the bill provides that, notwithstanding any provision of
Law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a school district may provide
educational services in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years to a
student who turned twenty-one years old during the 2019-20 or 2020-21
school years and was enrolled in the school district and receiving
special education services pursuant to an individualized education plan.
Such student may continue to receive such educational services until the
student completes the services pursuant to the individualized education
plan or turns twenty-three years of age, whichever is sooner.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The impacts of school closures and remote learning on students with
disabilities have become painfully clear. This legislation makes clear,
that school districts may continue to provide special educational
services to students who turn 21 years old in the 2019-20 or 2020-21
school years and were enrolled in the school district, pursuant to their
individualized education plan.

This will help ensure that those students who did not receive the
services provided for in their individualized education plans, due to
school closure and remote learning during COVID-19 receive those
services.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed June 30, 2023.