2023 -- H 5668

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LC001102

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Dawson, Kislak, Cotter, Handy,
Donovan, O'Brien, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-24 of the General Laws entitled "Children With Disabilities [See

Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding

thereto the following section:

     16-24-19. Special Education local advisory committees.

     (a) Every public school district shall, on the district’s website:

     (1) Post and maintain either a link to the website of the district’s special education local

advisory committee (the “committee”), or provide the contact information for the committee; and

     (2) Post or otherwise list the dates of meetings of the committee during the school year.

     (b) All districts shall maintain and promote committees that are active. As used herein, the

term “active” means that the committee meets at least four (4) times per year during the school

year; provided, one of these four (4) meetings may take place during the summer months if the

district operates an extended school year program for students with disabilities. A parent, guardian,

or other adult legally responsible adult of a student in a district where the committee is not active

may notify the school superintendent as to this lack of an active committee, on a written notice

form (“notice”) prepared by the district. Upon receipt of a notice under this section, the district

superintendent and the director of special education shall investigate the notice to determine if the

committee is or is not active. If the committee is not active, the district shall investigate why the

committee is not active and shall undertake efforts to make the committee active.

     (c) At every meeting with a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult (“responsible

adult”) of a student who is disabled, which meeting involves a review, modification, or continuation

of that student’s individual education program or 504 plan, the district shall provide a written notice

to the responsible adult which informs the responsible adult of the provisions to this section,

including, but not limited to, the contact information for the committee and the dates of scheduled

meetings.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

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     This act would require public school districts to take certain actions to promote notice and

disseminate information regarding the district’s special education local advisory committee.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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