1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a task force to review education for children 
1.3 	with disabilities.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH 
1.6 	DISABILITIES.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and duties. A task force to review all aspects of the 
1.8 	state's education system is established to recommend to the legislature changes that are 
1.9 	necessary to simplify and standardize the distribution of state aid for special education. At 
1.10 	a minimum, the task force shall consider and suggest legislative changes for a weighted 
1.11 	or points-based system that would be associated with each special education student and 
1.12 	used as a multiplier for determining state aid.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Membership. The task force must consist of 16 members. Task force 
1.14 	members must be appointed by July 1, 2007. The commissioner of education must 
1.15 	appoint the following task force members: two parents of children with disabilities, 
1.16 	four special education directors, two school administrators, one representative of an 
1.17 	advocacy organization for children with disabilities, and three school board members 
1.18 	from geographically diverse areas of the state. The commissioner shall convene the first 
1.19 	meeting and be an ex officio voting member of the task force. The task force must include 
1.20 	four legislators appointed as follows:
1.21 	(1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one 
1.22 	appointed by the minority leader; and
1.23 	(2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of 
1.24 	the House and one by the minority leader.
2.1 	The task force shall select a chair from its membership at the first meeting. Per diem and 
2.2 	expense for task force members are as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Staff support. The Department of Education and any other state agency 
2.4 	shall provide information and other assistance requested by the task force.
2.5 		Subd. 4.Report. The task force shall submit its report to the house of representatives 
2.6 	and senate committees having jurisdiction over special education before January 15, 2008.
2.7 		Subd. 5.Expiration. The task force expires the day following the submission of the 
2.8 	report required in subdivision 4.