SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6266
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 of February 1, 2012
Title: An act relating to creation of a statewide database of disability accommodation resources.
Brief Description: Creating a statewide database of disability accommodation resources.
Sponsors: Senators Shin, Delvin, Kastama, Kline, McAuliffe, Hatfield, Haugen, Swecker, Regala, Roach, Fraser, Chase, Rolfes, Stevens, Kohl-Welles, Pridemore and Conway.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 1/31/12.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
Staff: Katherine Taylor (786-7434)
Background: Central Washington University (CWU) is a public, four-year university located in Ellensburg, Washington. It is home to the Center for Disability Services, and the the Special Education Technology Center, which provides:
collaborative technology planning and collaboration for specific students whose disabilities require that they use some form of assistive technology in order to fully access their education;
a lending library of toys, switches, augmentative communication devices, alternate keyboards and other computer input devices, environmental control devices, and software designed for students with special needs; and
staff development on topics including assistive technology overview, augmentative communication, alternate computer input, software solutions and environmental control.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) works with Washington’s 295 school districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of public school students. It oversees the state and federal services that are provided to special education students in Washington, among other services.
Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed First Substitute): CWU creates, coordinates, designates, and recommends the use of a statewide database of student disability accommodation equipment, software, and resources owned by each school district and institution of higher education. The database is maintained by CWU. CWU collaborates with the OSPI and other institutions of higher education regarding the database. The database must be a uniform and interactive computerized statewide list of student disability accommodation equipment, software, and resources.
School districts and institutions of higher education, including community and technical colleges, must report all currently owned and inventoried student disability accommodation equipment, software, and resources, if an inventoried list of such resources is readily available to the school district or institution, in the database. School districts and institutions of higher education may search the database as needed.
CWU may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: If specific funding for the purpose of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2012, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: We support this bill. Students with disabilities often get assistive devices, which they leave behind to become the property of the school district, and this database might help with sharing between schools. The database would help us get a scope of what disability equipment is being used. The database will help students with disabilities transition between K-12 and higher education. The database will help students be successful. CWU does an exceptional job with students with disabilities, and it would be a good place to house the database. The education system should be available to everyone. We hope that different institutions of higher education will collaborate on the use of the database. The database will really help students with disabilities complete higher education. The database will bring together a lot of valuable information; the information will help students make decisions and pursue higher education. There is a lot of good this bill could do. It will help smaller institutions of higher education. We have no idea how much disability equipment we have in this state. We need to make sure that students with disabilities get employed and get help moving into the workforce.
Persons Testifying: Pro: Julie Garver, The Evergreen State College; Scott Copeland, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Jim Morris, Poverty Action Network; David Lord, DRW; Emily Rugtri, ARC; Jake Atwell-Sctivner, Bellevue College; Ed Holen, DD Council; Lynne Tucker, education consultant; Steve Dupont, CWU.