S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8492
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 4, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend a chapter of the laws of 2023 relating to establishing a
   dyslexia and dysgraphia task force, as proposed in  legislative  bills
   numbers S. 2599 and A. 133, in relation to establishing a dyslexia and
   dysgraphia task force and in relation to the effectiveness thereof

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 1 of a chapter of the  laws  of  2023  relating  to
 establishing a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force, as proposed in legis-
 lative bills numbers S. 2599 and A. 133, is amended to read as follows:
   Section  1. Dyslexia and dysgraphia task force. 1. The commissioner of
 education shall establish a task force to examine appropriate and effec-
 tive evidence-based dyslexia and dysgraphia screening  methods,  reading
 interventions, and other educational supports for students in kindergar-
 ten  through  grade  five.  The task force shall consist of at least ten
 members, including the commissioner of education or their designee,  who
 shall  serve  as chair of the task force. The remaining members shall be
 appointed by the commissioner of education in such a  manner  to  ensure
 that all regions of the state are represented, and shall include: (a) at
 least  two  members who specialize in identifying, evaluating, and diag-
 nosing individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (b) at least one  member
 who  specializes  in  educating individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia;
 (c) at least one member who is a parent of a student  with  dyslexia  or
 dysgraphia;  (d) at least one member with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (e) at
 least one member from an institute of higher education who is an  expert
 in  dyslexia  or dysgraphia; and (f) at least one member who is a public
 school teacher who specializes in teaching literacy  and  evidence-based
 reading  instruction.  All  members  shall  have  expertise in fields or
 disciplines related to the  identification  of  students  with  learning
 disabilities  including  the  unique  educational needs of students with
 dyslexia  or  dysgraphia.  THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL  BE  DISSOLVED   UPON
 SUBMISSION OF ITS REPORT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00296-02-4
              

 A. 8492                             2
 
   2.  The  task force shall conduct at least two public hearings for the
 purpose of obtaining information from stakeholders and other  interested
 parties  including  but  not  limited  to  speech  pathologists, reading
 specialists, teachers, school administrators, and parents.
   3.  The  task  force shall prepare and submit a report of its findings
 and recommendations to the  COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCATION,  THE  governor,
 temporary  president of the senate and speaker of the assembly [eighteen
 months after the effective date of this act] ON OR BEFORE TWELVE  MONTHS
 AFTER  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT.  THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT
 BE  LIMITED  TO  THE  FOLLOWING  RECOMMENDATIONS:    (A)  PEER-REVIEWED,
 EVIDENCE-BASED  SCREENING METHODS FOR DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA FOR USE BY
 SCHOOL  DISTRICTS;  (B)    PEER-REVIEWED,  EVIDENCE-BASED  DYSLEXIA  AND
 DYSGRAPHIA  INTERVENTIONS  AND  OTHER  EDUCATIONAL  SUPPORTS  FOR USE BY
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND (C) BEST PRACTICES THAT  MAY  BE  USED  BY  SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS  TO  ENSURE  EFFECTIVE  SCREENING  METHODS, INTERVENTIONS, AND
 OTHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS FOR DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON  THE
 STATE  EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT'S  WEBSITE INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECOM-
 MENDED EVIDENCE-BASED SCREENING METHODS, INTERVENTIONS, AND  EDUCATIONAL
 SUPPORTS FOR DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA SUBMITTED IN THE REPORT PURSUANT TO
 SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
   5.  For  the  purposes  of  this act, the term "screening methods" may
 include examining the  use  and  frequency  of  dyslexia  or  dysgraphia
 screeners that are valid, reliable, low cost, and developmentally appro-
 priate that measure deficits in areas including: (a) phonological aware-
 ness;  (b)  phonological  or  language-based memory; (c) rapid automatic
 naming; (d) receptive vocabulary; (e) phonics skills; (f)  decoding  and
 encoding  real and pseudo-words; (g) oral reading fluency; and (h) writ-
 ing at the sentence and paragraph level. Such screeners shall be  inclu-
 sive  of  students  with  diverse racial, linguistic, and socio-economic
 backgrounds, and factor familial history.
   § 2. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2023 relating to establish-
 ing a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force,  as  proposed  in  legislative
 bills numbers S. 2599 and A. 133, is amended to read as follows:
   §  2. This act shall take effect [January 1, 2024 and shall expire and
 be deemed repealed August 1, 2025] IMMEDIATELY.
   § 3. This act shall take  effect  immediately;  provided  however  the
 provisions of section one of this act shall take effect on the same date
 and  in  the  same  manner  as a chapter of the laws of 2023 relating to
 establishing a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force, as proposed in legis-
 lative bills numbers S. 2599 and A. 133, takes effect.