71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
HA to HB 2598
 
LC 2481/HB 2598-4
 
                       HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO
                         HOUSE BILL 2598
 
  By COMMITTEE ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY
 
                              May 1
 
  In line 2 of the printed bill, after 'education;' delete the
rest of the line and insert 'and declaring an emergency.'.
  Delete lines 4 through 24 and insert:
  '  { +  SECTION 1. + }  { + (1) There is created a task force
on special education and school finance consisting of 22 members.
Members shall be persons who are familiar with federal and state
funding programs for special education students and shall be
chosen to represent the cultural and geographic diversity of this
state.
  ' (2) Members of the task force shall consist of:
  ' (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction.
  ' (b) The Associate Superintendent of the Office of Special
Education.
  ' (c) Eight members appointed by the Governor, including:
  ' (A) An education adviser to the Governor.
  ' (B) One member from the Confederation of Oregon School
Administrators.
  ' (C) One member from the Oregon School Boards Association.
  ' (D) One member from the Oregon Education Association.
  ' (E) One member from the Department of Human Services.
  ' (F) One member who is a parent of or advocate for children
with special education needs.
  ' (G) Two members, each of whom is:
  ' (i) Employed by a school district or education service
district as a special education program director or special
education teacher;
  ' (ii) A public school principal; or
  ' (iii) A school district board member.
  ' (d) Six members appointed by the President of the Senate,
including:
  ' (A) Two state Senators representing different parties.
  ' (B) One member representing the business community.
  ' (C) One member who is a parent of or advocate for children
with special education needs.
  ' (D) Two members, each of whom is:
  ' (i) Employed by a school district or education service
district as a special education program director or special
education teacher;
  ' (ii) A public school principal; or
  ' (iii) A school district board member.
  ' (e) Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, including:
  ' (A) Two state Representatives representing different parties.
  ' (B) One member of the Oregon Business Association.
  ' (C) One member who is a parent of or advocate for children
with special education needs.
  ' (D) Two members, each of whom is:
  ' (i) Employed by a school district or education service
district as a special education program director or special
education teacher;
  ' (ii) A public school principal; or
  ' (iii) A school district board member.
  ' (3) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall appoint
the chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of
the task force.
  ' (4) The task force shall:
  ' (a) Study the most appropriate, specially designed
instructional methods and related services for students with
disabilities receiving special education;
  ' (b) Determine the most appropriate methods of providing
professional development and support for teachers and other staff
who provide instructional services to students with disabilities
receiving special education and related services;
  ' (c) Investigate the most appropriate methods for providing
public education to students with disabilities receiving special
education and related services;
  ' (d) Determine whether teachers of students with disabilities
receiving special education and related services are at their
workload limits;
  ' (e) Analyze the most appropriate methods of early
identification and intervention for all students, including those
students with disabilities receiving special education and
related services;
  ' (f) Review current sources of funding for special education
and related programs;
  ' (g) Study the Department of Education's monitoring of special
education funding, performance and outcomes;
  ' (h) Determine whether parents are being served by the current
complaint resolution process, including mediation, complaint
resolution, due process hearings and other appropriate dispute
resolution systems;
  ' (i) Study the maximum number of students per class for a
licensed special education teacher;
  ' (j) Make legislative recommendations on structuring funding
to fully meet the needs of students with disabilities receiving
special education and related services. The recommendations of
the task force shall include but are not limited to:
  ' (A) Assessing whether special education funding should be
removed from the current school funding formula in ORS 327.013;
  ' (B) Determining whether special grants should be established
to meet the funding needs of students with disabilities receiving
special education and related services;
  ' (C) Analyzing methods of utilizing the resources of regional
programs and education service districts; and
  ' (D) Recommending ways to develop and implement an improved
funding mechanism for students with disabilities receiving
special education and related services in order to meet the needs
of all children in Oregon schools;
  ' (k) Investigate any other issue the task force deems
necessary; and
  ' (L) Prior to October 1, 2002, report its findings to the
legislative interim committee on education.
  ' (5) The task force is subject to the provisions of ORS
171.605 to 171.635 and has the authority contained in ORS 171.505
and 171.510. Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 171.206 and
subsection (4)(L) of this section, the task force may file its
written report at any time within 30 days after its final
meeting, or at such later time as the appointing authorities
designate.
  ' (6) The Department of Education shall provide staff necessary
for the performance of the functions of the task force.
  ' (7) A member of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the
task force shall be entitled to an allowance as authorized by ORS
171.072 from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly.
Members of the task force who are not members of the Legislative
 
Assembly are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in
ORS 292.495.
  ' (8) All agencies, departments and officers of this state are
directed to assist the task force in the performance of its
functions and to furnish such information and advice as the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
functions.
  ' (9) Official action by the task force established pursuant to
this section shall require the approval of a majority of the
members. All legislation recommended by official action of the
task force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of
the task force. Such legislation shall be prepared in time for
presession filing pursuant to ORS 171.130 for presentation to the
regular session of the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 2. + }  { + Section 1 of this 2001 Act is
repealed on July 1, 2003. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 3. + }  { + This 2001 Act being necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and
safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act
takes effect on its passage. + } ' .
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