H-1570.1

HOUSE BILL 2037


State of Washington	65th Legislature	2017 Regular Session

By Representatives Frame, Haler, Ryu, Pollet, Stambaugh, Kagi, Kilduff, Tarleton, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Bergquist, and McDonald

Read first time 02/08/17. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to student services for students with disabilities; amending 2016 sp.s. c 22 s 2 (uncodified); creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. In the 2016 session, the legislature required the council of presidents to convene a work group to explore ways to improve the process for students with disabilities when they are transferring between institutions of higher education. The work group included representatives from the institutions, the student achievement council, students, and other stakeholders. Among other things, the work group conducted a survey for students and identified barriers and best practices. In the work group's report to the legislature, the work group recognized that improving services to students with disabilities is an ongoing and evolving process that warrants the continued attention of stakeholders. Therefore, the legislature intends to reauthorize the work group for the purposes of continuing its progress.

(a) Representatives from the state board for community and technical colleges; the state college, regional universities, and state universities, each as defined in RCW 28B.10.016; the student achievement council; and statewide student associations; and

(2) The plan shall focus on removing obstacles for students with disabilities transferring between institutions of higher education, including but not limited to: Standardizing medical documentation requirements, standardizing intake and review procedures, and developing best practices for institutions to provide outreach to and help prepare students for transmitting accommodations information and documentation to their next institution of higher education.

(3) The council of presidents shall provide the plan developed in subsection (2) of this section to the higher education committees of the legislature no later than December 31, 2016.

(4) The work group must continue developing a plan that focuses on removing obstacles for students with disabilities, as provided in subsection (2) of this section, and must also focus on improving overall access for students with disabilities, including addressing conditions under which accommodations are not provided to students with disabilities, such as in some supplemental electronic course materials.