HF 4222

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a parent-school partnership pilot program to
assist children with autism spectrum disorders; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PARENT-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM; CHILDREN
WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; local support. new text end

new text begin (a) A parent-school partnership pilot
program for fiscal year 2007 is established for children with autism spectrum disorders to
assist them in reaching their maximum potential through intensive early comprehensive
educational services. The pilot program shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) be located in the Minnesota Department of Education's special education low
incidence region 1 and 2, Warren/Bemidji;
new text end

new text begin (2) work to establish a cooperative effort between parents, schools, and community
agencies; and
new text end

new text begin (3) facilitate identifying, diagnosing, and providing comprehensive educational
services for children with autism, focusing on, but not limited to, children ages 18 to
60 months.
new text end

new text begin (b) The resource consultant who is part of the pilot program must provide needed
information and support to parents, schools, and community agencies to establish the
comprehensive educational services. The resource consultant's school support must
include the appropriate school district personnel's willingness to: work cooperatively
with families and the consultant; provide resources relating to autism spectrum disorder;
provide information and training on intensive comprehensive educational services; and
help to involve parents in the education process. The resource consultant??a??a??s family support
must include family willingness to: establish positive and cooperative relationships
with schools; provide information about student background experiences and specific
needs; understand parental responsibility and compulsory education under Minnesota
Statutes, section 120A.22; and provide support in referral processes with other agencies.
The resource consultant's community support must include medical personnel who are
willing to diagnose children with autism spectrum disorders early, based on an objective
assessment and using the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) or an equivalent
instrument, and information and training to incorporate needed comprehensive educational
services in agency programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program implementation; report. new text end

new text begin (a) To implement this pilot program,
the commissioner of education shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide clerical support for the pilot program in the Department of Education's
special education low incidence region 1 and 2, Warren/Bemidji;
new text end

new text begin (2) contract with an experienced parent who has a child with an autism spectrum
disorder and resides in the special education low incidence region 1 and 2 to serve as a
pilot program resource consultant;
new text end

new text begin (3) facilitate the ability of the Autism Society of Minnesota to provide the resource
consultant under clause (2) with internet access to the Autism Society and technical
assistance and training;
new text end

new text begin (4) record summary data on the number of families served, the number of
instructional hours per child, parent, and appropriate staff, and measurable outcomes for
children from the date service is initiated under this pilot program; and
new text end

new text begin (5) provide technical and other support the resource consultant needs to implement
subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall use the summary data recorded under paragraph (a) to
evaluate the efficacy of the pilot program and submit a written report by February 15,
2008, to the Education Policy and Finance Committees of the legislature that includes
recommendations about implementing the program in other special education low
incidence regions throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $35,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2007 to the commissioner
of education for implementing the parent-school partnership pilot program under section 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2006.
new text end