SDs: SPECIAL ED PARENT

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

House Bill 5530

Sponsor:  Rep. John Stahl

Committee:  Education

Complete to 2-17-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5530 AS INTRODUCED 2-11-04

House Bill 5530 would amend the Revised School Code to require each intermediate school district (ISD) to appoint a special education parent advisory committee. 

Under the bill, the committee and its officers would consist only of parents of students with disabilities, with at least one parent from each constituent school district and public school academy (unless no parent agreed to serve).  Each constituent district board and each public school academy board of directors would nominate at least one parent to serve on the committee.  The intermediate school board could appoint additional members; however, the number of their appointees could not exceed one-third of the total number of parent members.

The bill specifies that each intermediate school board make every attempt to assure that all types of impairments and all identifiable organizations of students with disabilities be represented on the committee.  The bill also specifies that the intermediate school board could recommend operational procedures for review and adoption by the committee.  Further, the ISD would be required to secure or allocate fiscal and staff resources to the committee, to make it efficient and effective in operation.

Under the bill, the parent advisory committee would be required to determine and document, in writing, the organizational structure of the committee, including at least all of the following:  a) officers and their responsibilities; b) meeting times; c) notice of meetings times; d) voting procedures; e) terms of office; and f) related matters.  The bill specifies that the committee would participate in the development of the ISD’s plan, or any modification of the plan, for the delivery of special education programs and services as required by R 340.1833 of the Michigan Administrative Code.  Finally, the parent advisory committee could provide advice on any matters that the committee considered appropriate to the improvement of special education services within the intermediate school district.

MCL 380.1744

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would have no state fiscal impact.   The bill would have minimal fiscal impact to the intermediate school districts.  The intermediate school districts are required to staff and earmark funds to assist the parent advisory committee in its mission.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.