Senate Bill S8155

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8155

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend chapter 217 of the laws of 2015, amending the education
law relating to certified school psychologists and special education
services and programs for preschool children with handicapping condi-
tions, in relation to the effectiveness thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would continue to allow approved multidisciplinary evaluation
programs to employ a certified school psychologist to conduct a multi-
disciplinary evaluation of a preschool child, infant or toddler having
or suspected of having a disability.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends Section 3 of Chapter 217 of the laws of 2015 of the
education law relating to certified school psychologists and special
education services and programs for preschool children with handicapping
              

conditions, to extend the expiration date to June 30, 2026.

Section 2. Establishes an immediate effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Over 40,000 children throughout the state are currently provided
services as a preschool child with a disability through New York State
approved 4410/preschool programs and agencies. An additional 8,200
infants from birth through age 2 are served through the Early Inter-
vention System. The initial evaluation of these children by a multidis-
ciplinary evaluation team is a critical component to determining the
appropriate needs and interventions for these young children. Research
shows that proper determination of a child's learning needs and early
intervention strategies to address barriers to learning are critical
determinants for positive school outcomes and success. Certified school
psychologists provide psychological assessments of children, understand
child development, and inform effective educational interventions in the
evaluation process and implementation of programs and services for
preschool children and infants with developmental delays.

This bill extends for two years provisions of law for the evaluation of
children ages 3 to 5 years old for preschool special education services
and for children ages 0 to 2 years old under the early intervention
program. The current law expires on June 30, 2024.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.