BILL REQ. #:  S-3805.1 

Read first time 01/16/12.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to creation of a statewide database of disability accommodation resources; adding new sections to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that postsecondary education helps individuals to become productive and contributing members of society, and that individuals with disabilities are equally benefited by gaining postsecondary education. The legislature also finds that students with disabilities face a disproportionate number of challenges when pursuing postsecondary education, and that people who have disabilities are less than half as likely to have a baccalaureate degree compared to people who do not have a disability. The legislature further finds that one such challenge is the inconsistency in accommodation resources available to them at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational levels, incurring significant strain for students as they transition between the different components of the educational path to employment as adults.
     The legislature intends to establish a common database of information that will allow institutions to make more informed decisions when they purchase new resources for students with disabilities, and to therefore increase the consistency among institutions at a pace which each institution believes to be most appropriate for their students. The legislature further intends that this database may assist in the sharing of resources between institutions and, when appropriate, in the retention of adaptive equipment by students after transitioning between institutions. The legislature intends for this collaboration among institutions to ultimately reduce the barriers to postsecondary education faced by students with disabilities, thereby increasing the number productive and contributing members of Washington's educated workforce.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:
     Central Washington University shall create, coordinate, designate, and recommend the use of a statewide database of student disability accommodation equipment, software, and resources owned by each school district and institution of higher education.
     (1) The database shall be maintained by Central Washington University. Central Washington University shall collaborate with the office of the superintendent of public instruction 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.
     (2) School districts and institutions of higher education, including community and technical colleges, are required to report all currently owned and inventoried student disability accommodation equipment, software, and resources, if available, in the database. School districts and institutions of higher education may search the database as needed.
     (3) Central Washington University may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes 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.