Committee substitute for House Bill 3393: Developmental disabilities; modifying the Self-Directed Care Pilot Program; creating the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; codification; effective date; emergency.HB 3393 passed in the Oklahoma House on 3/4/2010 with a vote of 78 to 19 and was referred for engrossment.
The committee substitute for House Bill 3393 would establish the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program for the purpose of providing a scholarship to a private school of choice for students with disabilities who have had an individualized education program (IEP) developed in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The measure specifies criteria that must be met for the student to receive a scholarship and directs the State Department of Education to approve a private school as eligible to participate in the program based on specified criteria. The bill also provides that, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a school district may satisfy its duty to provide special education and related services for children with disabilities by providing a scholarship at the request of a parent for a child to attend a private school or by transferring the child to another school district upon written request by the parent and approval of the receiving district.
HB 3393 would also amend the Self-Directed Care Pilot Program administered through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services by expanding the program statewide and changing its status from pilot to permanent; under the program, individuals with developmental disabilities are given a budget allowance in which they direct services rather than a third party. This creates a saving that is shared by the individuals directing and receiving the service and with the Department of Human Services.
A similar bill, which has a similar scholarship condition without addressing the Self-Directed Care Pilot Program is,
House Bill 3327: Schools; creating the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; codification; effective date; emergency.HB 3327 referred to the House Appropriations and Budget Committee on February 2, 2010 and is currently noted as "dormant" at the legislative website.
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2001, Section 13-101, which relates to special education services for children with disabilities; authorizing districts to provide scholarship for certain students to attend certain institutions; creating the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; stating intent; specifying procedures; establishing eligibility requirements; establishing formula for maximum scholarship amount; clarifying school districts not responsible for additional costs; precluding liability; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
For further reading
Oklahoma legislature
Special needs measure passed by House
posted 03/04/10 5:53 pm producer: Kevin King
Special needs scholarship bill clears House
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Published: 04-Mar-2010
Special Needs Scholarship Bill Gains Committee Approval
February 15, 2010
Executive Summary (February 2008)
Self-Directed Services (SDS) Pilot Program Evaluation Report
This report was developed through a collaborative project of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and the Center for Learning and Leadership/Oklahoma UCEDD at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine.
© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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