71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2481
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 2598
                  Ordered by the House June 30
       Including House Amendments dated May 1 and June 30
 
Sponsored by Representative BACKLUND
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Establishes task force on special education and school finance.
Charges task force with studying delivery and financing of
instruction for students with disabilities receiving special
education and related services.
  Sunsets task force July 1, 2003.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to education; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) There is created a task force on special
education and school finance consisting of 23 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) Nine 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 from the Oregon School Employees Association.
  (G) One member who is a parent of or advocate for children with
special education needs.
  (H) 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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