Title: An act relating to early intervention services for children with disabilities.

Brief Description: Providing for early intervention services for children with disabilities.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Dickerson, Talcott, Linville, Tom, Priest, Darneille, Pettigrew, Shabro, Jarrett, McCoy, Roberts, Kagi, Clements, Dunn, Hunter, Quall, Haler, Hinkle, Cody, Walsh, Ormsby, Kilmer, Simpson, Kessler, Morrell, Williams, O'Brien, Chase, Hunt, Schual-Berke, Conway, Santos, Haigh, Upthegrove and B. Sullivan).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/15/06, 2/17/06 [DP-WM]

Ways & Means: 2/22/06 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair, Early Learning & K-12; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Delvin, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Shin.

Staff: Ingrid Mungia (786-7423)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background: Special education is instruction and related services that are specially designed to meet the unique needs and abilities of students with disabilities. It is provided at no cost to eligible students in the state between three and 21 years of age.

School districts may provide early intervention services to eligible preschool-age children with a disability. School districts that provide these services are entitled to the regular apportionments from state and county school funds, as provided by law, in addition to allocations from state excess cost funds made available for special services for children with disabilities.

If school districts opt to serve eligible preschool-age children, they must do so in the birth-to-three age group under state regulations implementing Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the lead state agency responsible for early intervention services to children with a disability in the birth-to-three age group.

Summary of Amended Bill: By September 1, 2009, each school district is required to provide or contract for early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age. Eligibility must be determined according to Part C of the IDEA and as specified in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

School districts are required to provide or contract for early intervention services in partnership with local birth-to-three lead agencies and birth-to-three providers. The services must not supplant services or funding currently provided in the state for early intervention services to eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age.

The state-designated birth-to-three lead agency must be payor of last resort for provided birth-to-three early intervention services. The services provided for early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age are not part of the state's program of basic education pursuant to Article IX of the Washington State Constitution.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill: A technical amendment is made to make the statute related to funding of birth-to-three services consistent with the new requirement for school districts to provide or contract for services beginning September 1, 2009.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: People with disabilities face challenges growing up. The children who receive early services do the best. Those that receive these services early on do not have to have special education services once they enter school. With this bill everyone wins. The children that receive these services encounter fewer difficulties when they enter school. Early intervention services prevents secondary complications and disabilities. Families gain because they learn how to work with their child and schools gain because children are prepared when they come to school. This is a key part of early learning for children with disabilities. Early intervention is the foundation for a young person with developmental delay or disabilities to reach their full potential. Early intervention is a key part to early learning.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Rep. Dickerson, prime sponsor; Cecile Lindquist, WEE Care; Cassie Johnston, WEE Care.