HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 2230
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Passed House:
March 12, 2007
Title: An act relating to early intervention services for children who are three years old.
Brief Description: Regarding early intervention services for children three years old.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Ericks, Bailey, Schual-Berke, Williams, Kagi, Moeller, Lantz, Hasegawa, Green, Morrell, Linville, Blake, Upthegrove, Hunt, O'Brien, Roach, Goodman, Simpson, Ormsby and Santos).
Brief History:
Early Learning & Children's Services: 2/23/07, 2/27/07 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/12/07, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Haler, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Hinkle, Pettigrew and Roberts.
Staff: Sydney Forrester (786-7120).
Background:
Early intervention services to Washington's children with disabilities who are between the
ages of birth and three years are available though the Department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS) and through some school districts in the state. The DSHS early
intervention services are administered under the Infant and Toddler Early Intervention
Program (ITEIP). School district early intervention programs are typically provided as part
of a continuum of special education services to children with disabilities. School districts
may work in partnership with the ITEIP and provide services directly or through contracts
with local birth-to-three agencies and providers.
Beginning September 1, 2009, each school district must provide or contract for early
intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age.
School districts currently are required to provide special education services to eligible
children with disabilities between the ages of three and 21 years. Approximately
three-quarters of children who receive birth-to-three special education services also qualify
for three-to-21 services when they enter the K-12 system. Special education statutes require a
transition plan to be in place for these children by their third birthday in order to facilitate exit
from the birth-to-three program and entry into the three-to-21 program. Due to limited
school districts' services or programming during the summer months, some children with
birthdays during the late spring and summer months may experience a gap in receiving these
special education services as they exit the ITEIP program upon reaching age three.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Office of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction (OSPI) must jointly confer and consult with appropriate entities and
report back to the Legislature by October 1, 2007, regarding a policy to ensure children who
are eligible for special education services do not experience a gap in services when
transitioning from ITEIP to special education programs.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 28, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Children with summer birthdays who exit the Infant Toddler Early Intervention
Program (ITEIP) may have a gap in services while waiting for the school district to enroll
them in a special education program. For some of the children these programs are intended
to serve, a one, two, or three month gap in services can erase or diminish the gains previously
made. It doe not make sense to allow a gap in service for these children simply because the
bureaucracies are not in synch when a child moves from ITEIP to special education.
It is important to recognize there is a gap in the special education sysyem for all children
because the school district services usually run just nine months per year. This creates a great
deal of stress for families to coordinate all the systems to help their children get what they
need to continue progressing. The current birth-to-three program is very important and we
want to make sure the funding for these services is stable. We also want to try and solve the
gap in services problem.
(Opposed with concerns) We recognize the need for consistency and services to children with
disabilities. We would like to make sure we recognize that school districts are required to,
and are funded to, prevent these gaps in services. Early intervention programs usually run for
12 months but special education programs may not. We must make sure we do not
jeopardize federal ITEIP funding by serving children beyond the age of three years. If the
ITEIP services are extended to children beyond three years we would not have the funding.
Special education programs should pick-up these children when they exit ITEIP.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Ericks, prime sponsor; and Cassie Johnston
and Cecile Lindquist, Wee Care Coalition.
(Opposed with concerns) Sandy L. Morris, Department of Social and Health Services, Infant
Toddler Early Intervention Program.