SF 2698

2nd Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/23/2018 09:47am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing the special education legislative working group;
requiring legislative appointments; requiring consultation with stakeholders and
a report of recommendations.

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

Section 1. new text begin SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE WORKING GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) A legislative working group on special education is created
to review special education delivery and cost containment in Minnesota, to consult with
stakeholders, and to submit a written report to the legislature recommending policy changes
to reduce costs. The special education legislative working group must examine and consider:
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new text begin (1) how school districts, charter schools, intermediate school districts, special education
cooperatives, education districts, and service cooperatives deliver special education services
and the costs associated with each model;
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new text begin (2) relevant state and federal special education laws and regulations and where state
mandates exceed federal requirements;
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new text begin (3) trends in special education enrollment, the reasons for the increased proportion of
Minnesota students receiving special education, and the role that reading instruction
effectiveness plays;
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new text begin (4) strategies or programs that would be effective in reducing the need for special
education services;
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new text begin (5) funding for nonresident children in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, sections
125A.11 and 127A.47, and tuition billing reports for the most recent five-year period;
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new text begin (6) the effect of the 2013 statutory changes to the state special education funding formulas,
including interactions and conformity with federal funding formulas;
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new text begin (7) how school districts and charter schools use section 504 plans, including criteria
used to determine when a section 504 plan is appropriate and the prevalence of section 504
plans in school districts and charter schools; and
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new text begin (8) the 2013 evaluation report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor on special
education and the status of implementing its recommendations.
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new text begin (b) In making its recommendations, the special education legislative working group
must consider a ten-year strategic plan informed by the policy findings in paragraph (a) to
help reduce the costs contributing to the special education cross-subsidy and overall special
education funding.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The legislative working group on special education consists
of:
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new text begin (1) six duly elected and currently serving members of the house of representatives, three
appointed by the speaker of the house and three appointed by the house minority leader,
one of whom must be the current chair of the house of representatives Education Innovation
Policy Committee; and
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new text begin (2) six duly elected and currently serving senators, three appointed by the senate majority
leader and three appointed by the senate minority leader, one of whom must be the current
chair of the senate Education Policy Committee.
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new text begin (b) Only duly elected and currently serving members of the house of representatives or
senate may be members of the special education legislative working group.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Organization; process; administrative and technical support. new text end

new text begin The special
education legislative working group appointments must be made by July 1, 2018. If a vacancy
occurs, the leader of the caucus in the house of representatives or senate to which the vacating
working group member belonged must fill the vacancy. The chair of the house of
representatives Education Innovation Policy Committee shall serve as a cochair of the
working group and shall convene the first meeting. The chair of the senate Education Policy
Committee shall serve as a cochair of the working group. The working group must meet
periodically. Meetings of the working group must be open to the public. The Legislative
Coordinating Commission shall provide administrative assistance upon request. The
Minnesota Department of Education must provide technical assistance upon request.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Consultation with stakeholders. new text end

new text begin In developing its recommendations, the
special education legislative working group must consult with interested and affected
stakeholders.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The special education legislative working group must submit a report
providing its findings and policy recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2019.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The special education legislative working group expires on January
16, 2019, unless extended by law.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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