2023 -- S 0063

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LC000894

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL

EDUCATION OMBUD

     

     Introduced By: Senators Murray, DiPalma, Valverde, Lauria, Quezada, Bell, Felag,
McKenney, DiMario, and Gu

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

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     (1) Every student who receives special education is covered by the Individuals with

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Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). There are seven (7) basic principles which are consistent with

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the IDEA. These principles are as follows:

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     (i) To identify the child with special needs;

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     (ii) To provide free and appropriate public education;

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     (iii) To conduct an evaluation where school districts gather the information necessary to

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help determine the student's educational needs and guide decision making about appropriate

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educational programming;

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     (iv) To produce an individualized education program (IEP) to ensure that each student's

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individual needs are met, school districts shall create a written statement of the educational program

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designed to the needs of the student;

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     (v) To provide the least restrictive environment for the student in order that each student

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receives an appropriate education designed to meet their special needs.

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     (vi) To offer opportunities for meaningful participation of parents, guardians, and

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custodians of students with disabilities, and the students, when appropriate, to become involved

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throughout the special education process; and

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     (vii) To implement procedural safeguards to ensure that each student's rights and the rights

 

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of the parents, guardians, and custodians of the students with disabilities are protected and establish

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clear steps to address issues which may arise. Parents, guardians and custodians of students with

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disabilities between the ages of three (3) through eighteen (18) or custodians or guardians of

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students with disabilities who are over the age of eighteen (18) through twenty-two (22) and

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enrolled in school shall have the ability to participate in meetings, examine all education records

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and obtain an individual educational evaluation of the student.

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     SECTION 2. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 165

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OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION OMBUD

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     42-165-1. Establishment.

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     There is hereby created and established the office of the special education ombud.

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     42-165-2. Purpose.

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     (a) The office of the special education ombud (the office) shall be independent of the Rhode

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Island department of education (the department) and shall serve as an impartial state office readily

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available to members of the public, including, but not limited to, teachers, local education agencies

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(LEAs), advocates, students, parents, guardians, and custodians of students with disabilities

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between the ages of three (3) through eighteen (18) or for those guardians and custodians of students

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with disabilities who are over the age of eighteen (18) through the age of twenty-two (22) and

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enrolled in school.

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     (b) The primary responsibility of the office shall be to direct students, parents, guardians

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or custodians to the most appropriate resource in the community, in a school district or within the

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department, to ensure compliance by schools and school districts with the applicable individualized

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education program (IEP), as defined in Section 1401 of 20 U.S.C., and related services for students

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with disabilities pursuant to chapter 24 of title 16 and federal law including the Individuals with

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Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

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     (c) When appropriate and necessary, in the discretion of the ombud and pursuant to this

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chapter, the office of the special education ombud may also serve to monitor and investigate

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administrative action by the department related to special education services and its authority under

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the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

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     42-165-3. Definitions.

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     When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) "504 Plan" means § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. No. 93-112, 87 Stat.

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394 (Sept. 26, 1973) codified at 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.).

 

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     (2) "Administrative action" means any action, decision, adjudication, failure to act,

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omission, rule or regulation, interpretation, recommendation, policy, practice or procedure of the

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department.

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     (3) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of education (RIDE);

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     (4) "Guardian" or "guardians" means parents, guardians, and custodians of students with

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disabilities between the ages of three (3) through eighteen (18) or those guardians and custodians

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of students with disabilities who are over the age of eighteen (18) through the age of twenty-two

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(22). It includes an individual who has custody and control of a student or who has legal authority

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to make educational decisions on behalf of the student;

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     (5) "Office" means the office of the special education ombud;

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     (6) "State special education ombud", "state ombud" or "ombud" means the state special

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education ombud; and

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     (7) "Student" means a public school, public charter school or private school student age

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three (3) through the age of twenty-two (22) receiving or seeking special education services, such

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as early intervention, IEP, 504 Plan and transitional plan for student leaving high school.

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     42-165-4. Appointment of the special education ombud.

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     (a) The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a person qualified

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by education, training and experience to analyze problems of law, administration and public policy,

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and to perform the responsibilities of the state special education ombud, as set forth in this chapter.

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The ombud shall hold office for a term of five (5) years and shall continue to hold office until his

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or her successor is appointed and qualified. The ombud may be reappointed for additional terms.

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     (b) The appointment shall be made from a list of at least three (3) individuals submitted by

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a committee, to be convened by the governor, consisting of seven (7) members as follows:

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     (1) One of whom shall be an attorney who practices in the area of special education

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advocacy law appointed by the Rhode Island Bar Association;

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     (2) One of whom shall be a special education administrator of a municipal school district,

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appointed by the Association of Rhode Island Administrators of Special Education;

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     (3) One of whom shall be a special education teacher appointed by the American Federation

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of Teachers (AFT);

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     (4) One of whom shall be a special education teacher appointed by the National Education

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Association;

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     (5) One of whom shall be a parent, guardian or caretaker of a student with special needs

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appointed by Rhode Island Advocacy for Children;

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     (6) One of whom shall be the executive director of the Rhode Island developmental

 

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disabilities council, or designee; and

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     (7) One of whom shall be the child advocate, or designee.

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     (c) Members of the committee shall have knowledge of federal and state special education

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law, knowledge of civil rights, or experience with the implementation of an individualized

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education program (IEP) and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504 plans).

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     42-165-5. Organization of the office of the state special education ombud.

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     (a) The ombud shall select, appoint and fix the compensation of a person as deputy ombud

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and shall select, appoint and fix the compensation of such other employees as the ombud may deem

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necessary to discharge the ombud’s responsibilities under this chapter, and shall include, but not

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be limited to:

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     (1) In-house legal counsel;

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     (2) A data and evaluation coordinator;

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     (3) An intake coordinator to screen inquiries and complaints filed by the public; and

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     (4) A community liaison to develop strategic partnerships with community organizations,

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including the parent training and information center, that serve students with disabilities and their

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families. Compensation shall be fixed within the amount available by appropriation. All officers

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and employees shall serve at the ombud’s pleasure.

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     (b) The ombud may delegate to staff members any authority, power or duty except this

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power of delegation and the ombud’s duty to make any report under this chapter. However, the

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ombud may authorize the deputy ombud to act in the ombud’s stead in the event of illness, absence,

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leave or disability, or when, in the ombud’s sole discretion, an appearance of impropriety or

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partiality or a conflict of interest prevents the ombud from discharging his or her duty in a particular

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matter.

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     42-165-6. Powers and duties of the state special education ombud.

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     (a) The state special education ombud shall have the authority to:

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     (1) Monitor the department’s special education complaint and dispute resolution processes

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to ensure transparency and accountability;

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     (2) Investigate, on complaint or on the ombud’s own initiative, any administrative act by

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the department pertaining to special education services, pursuant to § 42-165-8;

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     (3) Assist students and guardians in protecting the educational rights of students, which

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may include assisting students and guardians in individualized education plan meetings or other

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proceedings pursuant to chapter 24 of title 16 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

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(IDEA);

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     (4) Under limited circumstances pursuant to § 42-165-8, investigate special education-

 

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related action taken by a local education agency or school; and

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     (5) Promulgate rules and regulations required for the discharge of the ombud’s duties,

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including procedures for receiving and processing complaints, conducting investigations, and

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reporting findings conclusions and recommendations;

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     (b) The office of the state special education ombud shall:

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     (1) Inform students and guardians about special education resources in their community;

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     (2) Ensure that students and guardians have regular and timely access to the services

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provided through the office and that students and guardians receive timely responses from

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representatives of the office;

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     (3) Identify any patterns of concerns that emerge regarding special education services and

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educational rights and recommend strategies for improvement to the department;

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     (4) Collaborate with the department and local education agencies' directors of special

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education to ensure that all dispute resolution processes are available to students and guardians;

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     (5) Collect, analyze, and disseminate data and collaborate with advocacy agencies within

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the state to identify and report systemic special education issues to the department;

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     (6) Ensure that office staff and contractors are trained in:

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     (i) Federal, state and local laws, rules and policies with respect to special education in the

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state;

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     (ii) Investigative techniques to determine if students are receiving special education

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opportunities;

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     (iii) Dispute resolution; and

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     (iv) Such other matters as the office deems appropriate;

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     (7) Analyze, comment on and monitor the development and implementation of federal and

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state laws, rules and other governmental policies and actions that pertain to the educational rights

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of students with respect to the adequacy of special education services in the state;

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     (8) Recommend changes to laws, rules, policies and actions pertaining to the special

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educational rights of students as the office determines to be appropriate;

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     (9) Facilitate public comment on proposed laws, rules, policies and actions; and

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     (10) Provide information and data to public and private agencies, legislators and other

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persons regarding the problems and concerns of special education services and make

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recommendations related to those problems and concerns.

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     42-165-7. Annual report.

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     No later than December 1, of each year, the office shall prepare and submit a report to the

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governor and to the general assembly that includes:

 

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     (1) Actions taken by the office in the prior school year for which the report is prepared;

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     (2) Special education concerns identified by or on behalf of students and guardians,

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resolution of the concerns and the effectiveness of the resolution processes;

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     (3) Recommendations for improving the quality of special education services provided to

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students and protecting the educational rights of students; and

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     (4) Policy, inclusive of regulatory and legislative recommendations, to solve identified

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concerns related to special education, to improve processes of resolutions of concerns, to improve

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the quality of services provided to students, to protect the educational rights of students and to

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remove barriers to education and educational services.

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     42-165-8. Investigations of special education complaints to the ombud.

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     (a) The office shall have the authority to investigate complaints related to special education

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communicated to the office by or on behalf of students and guardians, pursuant to procedures and

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regulations promulgated by the office of the special education ombud.

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     (b) Prior to formally investigating special education complaints, the office of the state

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special education ombud shall make a reasonable effort to determine:

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     (1) That the student, parent, or guardian has pursued standard special education dispute

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resolution processes, or has not been reasonably able to avail themselves of the opportunity to

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pursue those processes; or

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     (2) That the matter has been referred to the office for investigation by a federally-

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designated parent training and information center (PTIC) charged with dealing with special

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education and disabilities under 20 U.S.C. 1471; or

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     (3) That the student, parent, or guardian has filed a complaint with the department, and the

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department has failed to provide timely response to such complaint, or the department has

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responded to such complaint and the student’s school or district has failed to comply with the

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department’s determination.

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     (c)(1) If determined by the ombud to be a suitable subject for investigation, the ombud may

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conduct a suitable investigation. An appropriate subject for investigation by the ombud includes

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any administrative act by the department which the ombud believes may be:

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     (i) Contrary to law or regulation;

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     (ii) Based on mistaken facts or irrelevant considerations;

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     (iii) Unsupported by an adequate statement of reasons;

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     (iv) Performed in an inefficient manner;

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     (v) Unreasonable, unfair, or otherwise objectionable, even though in accordance with law;

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or

 

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     (vi) Otherwise erroneous.

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     (2) Additionally, a complaint that a school or district has failed to comply with a previous

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special education dispute resolution agreement or determination made by the department shall be

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considered an appropriate subject for investigation by the ombud.

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     (d) If, after investigation, the ombud is of the opinion that the department should:

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     (1) Consider the matter further;

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     (2) Modify or cancel an administrative action;

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     (3) Alter a regulation or practice;

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     (4) Explain more fully the administrative action in question; or

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     (5) Pursue additional administrative action, in the case of a school or district failing to

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comply with a previous agreement or department determination, the ombud shall state any

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conclusions, recommendations and reasons therefore to the department. If the ombud so requests,

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the department shall inform the ombud, in a timely manner, about the action taken on

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recommendations or reasons for not adopting recommendations.

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     (e) Before formally issuing a conclusion or recommendation that is significantly critical or

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adverse to the department, the ombud shall have consulted with the department and permitted the

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department reasonable opportunity to reply.

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     (f) The ombud, in his or her discretion, may decide not to investigate for reasons including,

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but not limited to:

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     (1) The complainant could reasonably be expected to use another remedy or channel;

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     (2) The complaint is trivial or not made in good faith;

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     (3) The complainant is not aggrieved, either personally or on behalf of a student over whom

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they have custody and control, by the subject matter of the complaint; or

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     (4) Resources are insufficient for adequate investigation;

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     (g) The ombud declining to investigate a complaint shall not bar the ombud from

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proceeding on his or her own initiative to investigate an administrative act whether or not included

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in the complaint.

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     (h) If the office does not address a complaint, the office shall notify the complainant of the

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decision not to address the complaint and the reasons for the decision, and shall, if appropriate,

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refer the complainant to other special education resources in the community.

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     42-165-9. Access to student educational records.

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     Upon request and with consent from the student or the student's guardian, the office shall

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have access to the student's educational records from the department, local education agency or any

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school in possession of the student's records that are necessary to carry out the office's

 

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responsibilities.

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     42-165-10. Confidentiality.

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     (a) All files, records and evaluation forms maintained by the office that pertain to students

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are confidential and shall not be deemed "public records" subject to disclosure under chapter 2 of

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title 38 and shall be compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and

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the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) except that the state ombud may

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disclose the identity of a concerned person or student if:

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     (1) The student, provided they are over the age of eighteen (18), or the student's guardian

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consents in writing to the disclosure; or

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     (2) The student, who is over the age of eighteen (18), or the student's guardian is unable to

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give written consent, and the student or the student's guardian gives consent using any method that

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the student or the student's guardian is able to; provided that, the method used to communicate is

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usual or customary for the individual and clearly indicates that they consent to the disclosure; and

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provided further that, the consent shall also be documented immediately in writing by a

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representative of the office; or

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     (4) Disclosure is ordered by the court.

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     (b) The annual report required pursuant to this chapter may use confidential information

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and may be published or furnished to the public; provided that, the report does not identify

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individual students directly or indirectly nor violate the privileged or confidential nature of the

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relationship and communications between the student and the office.

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     42-165-11. Conflict of Interest.

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     (a) An ombud shall not:

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     (1) Have an ownership or investment or other financial relationship in a school providing

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special education services;

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     (2) Be employed by, or participating in the management of, a school providing special

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education services; and

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     (3) Receive, or have the right to receive, directly or indirectly, remuneration with a school

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providing special education services.

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     (b) The governor shall ensure that the person or an immediate family member of that person

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appointed ombud does not have a conflict of interest.

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     (c) The ombud shall ensure that an employee or a contractor of the office does not have a

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conflict of interest.

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     42-165-12. Posting and distribution of ombud information - Evaluation of process.

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     (a) Every school providing special education services shall post, in a conspicuous location

 

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in the school, a notice regarding the office that contains a brief description of the services provided

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by the office and the name, address, and phone number of the office and shall post the information

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on the school's website, if applicable. The school providing special education services shall

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distribute information regarding the state ombud at the beginning of every school year, in addition

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to providing the information as part of the annual individual education plan (IEP) process prior to

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scheduling the first individual education plan meeting of each school year. The form of the notice

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shall be developed by the office and made easily available to schools.

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     (b) The department, in conjunction with the ombud, shall develop and implement a

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reasonable, accessible and consistent method of evaluation that shall be made available to students

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and/or parents or guardians, for the purpose of regularly collecting feedback from families about

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their satisfaction with special education services and dispute resolution processes that are available

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to them. The evaluation shall be made available in as many modalities as is necessary to be made

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reasonably accessible to any student or guardian, and shall be made available in multiple languages.

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Students and guardians shall have the option to complete the evaluation anonymously, and any

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published data from the evaluation shall be de-identified and protect personally identifiable data.

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The ombud shall have access to all data collected from the evaluation method(s) adopted by the

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department.

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     42-165-13. Availability of legal counsel to the office.

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     The governor shall ensure that adequate legal counsel is available and is able, without

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conflict of interest, to:

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     (1) Provide advice and consultation to the office needed to protect the educational rights of

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students; and

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     (2) Assist the office and contractors in the performance of the official duties of the state

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ombud and its representatives.

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     42-165-14. Interference with the office and retaliation.

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     (a) A person shall not willfully interfere with the lawful actions of the office.

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     (b) A person shall not institute discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory action against any

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student or guardian for filing a complaint with, providing information to or otherwise cooperating

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with the office.

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     (c) If a school district or department personnel or a contractor or volunteer of a school

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district or the department fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter:

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     (1) The ombud shall report the noncompliance to the commissioner of elementary and

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secondary education or, when appropriate, the governor;

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     (2) The office shall collaborate with the department to access processes and resources to

 

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address special education services concerns;

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     (3) The office shall collaborate with the department to identify further appropriate actions

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to be taken in response to the report, which may include a corrective action plan or any other

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administrative action that the department is authorized to take to ensure that students receive the

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free and appropriate public education required by state law including chapter 24 of title 16 and

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federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and

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     (4) The office shall provide a letter to the concerned person and guardian explaining the

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actions needed to be taken by the department to ensure compliance with this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL

EDUCATION OMBUD

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     This act would establish the office of the Rhode Island ombud for special education, which

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would serve independent of the department of elementary and secondary education, to ensure

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school districts throughout the state meet the minimum standards required to comply with the

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individualized education programs for students with disabilities. This act would also require that

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families be provided a method of evaluation for collecting feedback about the level of satisfaction

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with the special education services and dispute resolution processes available to them.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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