HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2110

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to students with disabilities.

Brief Description:  Facilitating assistance for students with disabilities.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dunn, Van Luven, McDonald, Veloria, Sheldon, Morris, Mason and Boldt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  3/4/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Boldt, Vice Chairman; Bush, Vice Chairman; Tokuda, Ranking Minority Member; Kastama, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes; Carrell; Dickerson; Gombosky; McDonald and Wolfe.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Each school district is required to submit the names of all visually or hearing impaired children living in the school district between the ages of three and 21 years.  The educational service district is required to make a complete report of visually or hearing impaired children to the superintendent of the school for the blind or the school for the deaf annually.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is also required to make the same report to the respective schools.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The school district is required to ask the parent of the visually or hearing impaired child if the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in the Department of Social and Health Services or the Department of Services for the Blind may send the parent information about services for the visually or hearing impaired.  The school will communicate the parent=s response to the educational service district within 30 days.  The educational service district will provide the name and mailing address of the visually or hearing impaired student to the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services or the Department of Services for the Blind within 30 days of receiving the information by the school district.  The Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services or the Department of Services for the Blind will use the information received to notify parents of the services available.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Visually impaired children are included in the referral process.  The Department of Services for the Blind is added as an information source for parents of children with visual impairments.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This referral process will help parents of visually or hearing impaired children cope with their child=s impairment.  Children will benefit from early identification and referral.

Testimony Against:  None presented.

Testified:  Leon Curtis, Department of Social and Health Services (pro); Larry Peterson, SCC (pro); and Allie M. Joiner, Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (pro).