2023 -- H 6377

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LC002942

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $600,000 FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO FACILITATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION

PROGRAM (IEP)/504 SERVICE PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson

     Date Introduced: May 05, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, To assist special education planning teams reach agreements, facilitated

Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings are often a beneficial tool, that is in the best

interest of the student, and helps to avoid entering into a formal dispute resolution; and

     WHEREAS, In order to guide the process successfully, an independent State

Ombudsman office with a trained IEP or 504 meeting Facilitator is essential to the process when

an impasse has arisen or meetings are expected to be contentious; and

     WHEREAS, A facilitator helps keep members of the team focused on the development of

the IEP/504, and encourages cooperation and enhanced communication, while addressing

conflicts and disagreements that have occurred before or that may emerge during the meeting;

and

     WHEREAS, Funding for an independent State Ombudsman office for a Facilitated

Individualized Education Program would provide for:

     • A Program coordinator and scheduling assistant, to direct and manage

appropriation funding and Facilitator scheduling;

     • IEP/504 Facilitator(s) and/or part-time Facilitator(s), based on the number of IEP

or 504 plans that may require facilitation, as recommended by RIDE; and

     • A training program for Facilitators and members of IEP/504 teams to best utilize

the program; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of six hundred thousand dollars

($600,000) for an independent State Ombudsman office to provide for a facilitated Individualized

Education Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders

upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time

to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $600,000 FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO FACILITATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION

PROGRAM (IEP)/504 SERVICE PROGRAM

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $600,000 for an

independent State Ombudsman office to provide for a facilitated Individualized Education

Program.

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LC002942

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