Bill Text: NY A09280 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to establishing a community-based program providing supports and services for individuals with neurologically-based learning disorders to re-engage with school or adult education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-04-07 - referred to education [A09280 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A09280-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         9280
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     April 7, 2014
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. NOLAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Education
       AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing  communi-
         ty-based programs providing supports and services for individuals with
         neurologically-based  learning  disorders  to re-engage with school or
         adult education
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 94 to
    2  read as follows:
    3                                  ARTICLE 94
    4        YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS
    5  SECTION 4650. DEFINITIONS.
    6          4651. PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY-BASED  PROGRAMS  PROVIDING  SUPPORTS
    7                  AND  SERVICES  FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED
    8                  LEARNING DISORDERS TO RE-ENGAGE  WITH  SCHOOL  OR  ADULT
    9                  EDUCATION.
   10    S  4650.  DEFINITIONS.  THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
   11  MEANINGS WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
   12    1. "NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS"  SHALL  MEAN  A  DISORDER
   13  RESULTING IN DEFICITS IN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING AND/OR DEFICITS IN ONE OR
   14  MORE  OF  THE BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES INVOLVED IN UNDERSTANDING OR
   15  IN USING LANGUAGE, SPOKEN OR WRITTEN, THAT MAY MANIFEST  ITSELF  IN  THE
   16  IMPERFECT  ABILITY TO LISTEN, THINK, SPEAK, READ, WRITE, SPELL, OR TO DO
   17  MATHEMATICAL CALCULATIONS, INCLUDING CONDITIONS SUCH AS PERCEPTUAL DISA-
   18  BILITIES, BRAIN INJURY, MINIMAL BRAIN DYSFUNCTION, DYSLEXIA, AND  DEVEL-
   19  OPMENTAL APHASIA.
   20    2.  "EXECUTIVE  FUNCTIONING"  SHALL  MEAN  THE  MANAGEMENT, REGULATION
   21  AND/OR CONTROL OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES INCLUDING WORKING MEMORY,  REASON-
   22  ING,  TASK  FLEXIBILITY,  AND  PROBLEM  SOLVING AS WELL AS PLANNING, AND
   23  EXECUTION.
   24    3. "INDIVIDUAL WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING  DISORDERS"  ("INDI-
   25  VIDUAL")  SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL, AGE SEVENTEEN OR OLDER, WITH A DIAG-
   26  NOSED OR SUSPECTED NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDER OR  A  RELATED
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD14633-01-4
       A. 9280                             2
    1  NEUROLOGICAL  IMPAIRMENT  WHO  IS NOT ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, AN ADULT BASIS
    2  EDUCATION PROGRAM, A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA PROGRAM OR A CAREER
    3  SCHOOL;   OR   AN   INDIVIDUAL   WITH   A   DIAGNOSED    OR    SUSPECTED
    4  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED  LEARNING  DISORDER OR RELATED NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIR-
    5  MENT ENROLLED IN AN ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM, A HIGH SCHOOL  EQUIV-
    6  ALENCY  DIPLOMA  PROGRAM, A CAREER SCHOOL OR SIMILAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
    7  BUT WHO IS NOT DEMONSTRATING A LEVEL OF SUCCESS WITH SUCH  PROGRAM  THAT
    8  WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO GRADUATION OR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION.
    9    4. "INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN" SHALL MEAN A PERSON-CEN-
   10  TERED  WRITTEN DOCUMENT DEVELOPED BY A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM PROVIDING
   11  SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR  AN  INDIVIDUAL  WITH  A  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED
   12  LEARNING  DISORDER, DEVELOPED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.
   13  SUCH PLAN SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S CURRENT LEVEL OF
   14  ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE  INDIVIDUAL'S  DISABILITY
   15  AND  LEARNING  STYLE  AFFECTS  HIS OR HER PARTICIPATION IN THEIR DESIRED
   16  EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; A STATEMENT OF MEASURABLE  GOALS,  INCLUDING  FUNC-
   17  TIONAL,  EDUCATIONAL  AND  CAREER  GOALS;  A  STATEMENT  DESCRIBING  THE
   18  SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO SUCH INDIVIDUAL BY THE  COMMUNI-
   19  TY-BASED PROGRAM IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE GOALS; AND A STATEMENT OF EDUCA-
   20  TIONAL  ACCOMMODATIONS  AND  MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY THE INDIVIDUAL TO
   21  ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN HIS OR HER DESIRED  EDUCATIONAL  PROGRAM,  WHICH  MAY
   22  INCLUDE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
   23    5.  "SOFT SKILLS" SHALL MEAN PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES THAT ENHANCE AN INDI-
   24  VIDUAL'S SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT,  JOB  PERFORMANCE
   25  AND CAREER PROSPECTS.
   26    6.  "SERVICE  NAVIGATION"  SHALL MEAN SERVICES THAT IDENTIFY COMMUNITY
   27  RESOURCES THAT COULD BENEFIT THE INDIVIDUAL'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND EDUCA-
   28  TIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS BY TARGETING THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY AGENCIES
   29  AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT  WILL  HELP  INDIVIDUALS  ATTAIN  THEIR  SPECIFIC
   30  NEEDS.  SERVICE NAVIGATION ALSO HELPS THE INDIVIDUAL COORDINATE MULTIPLE
   31  SERVICES, OBTAIN NECESSARY  ACCOMMODATIONS  FOR  THEIR  DISABILITY,  AND
   32  SEEKS  TO  ENSURE  THAT  THE  INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR
   33  THEMSELVES IN SOCIAL, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS.
   34    7. "ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY" SHALL MEAN ANY ITEM, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,  OR
   35  PRODUCT  SYSTEM, WHETHER ACQUIRED COMMERCIALLY, MODIFIED, OR CUSTOMIZED,
   36  THAT IS USED TO INCREASE, MAINTAIN, OR IMPROVE  FUNCTIONAL  CAPABILITIES
   37  OF INDIVIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS.
   38    8. "COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR INDI-
   39  VIDUALS  WITH  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS" SHALL MEAN A NEW
   40  YORK STATE BASED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH  FIVE  YEARS  OR  MORE
   41  EXPERIENCE  PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR INDIVID-
   42  UALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS.
   43    S 4651. PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS  PROVIDING  SUPPORTS  AND
   44  SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS TO
   45  RE-ENGAGE WITH SCHOOL OR ADULT EDUCATION. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
   46  UNDER  THE  EXERCISE  OF  AUTHORITY  AND  CONTROL  OF THE COMMISSIONER A
   47  PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR
   48  INDIVIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING  DISORDERS  TO  RE-ENGAGE
   49  WITH SCHOOL OR ADULT EDUCATION.
   50    2. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH PROGRAM AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
   51  SECTION  SHALL  BE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
   52  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED  LEARNING  DISORDERS,   AS   DEFINED   IN   SECTION
   53  FORTY-NINE  HUNDRED  FIFTY  OF THIS ARTICLE, TO ATTAIN NECESSARY SKILLS,
   54  AND WHERE POSSIBLE, NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN  EDUCATION
   55  AND  EMPLOYMENT. SCHOOL-AGE INDIVIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARN-
   56  ING DISORDERS WILL RECEIVE NECESSARY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR ACHIEVING
       A. 9280                             3
    1  SUCCESS IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHILE INDIVIDUALS OLDER THAN SCHOOL
    2  AGE WILL BE PROVIDED NECESSARY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR  SUCH  INDIVID-
    3  UALS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ADULT LITERA-
    4  CY  PROGRAMS, OR CAREER SCHOOLS. A GOAL FOR ALL SUCH INDIVIDUALS WILL BE
    5  LEGAL EMPLOYMENT PAYING MINIMUM WAGE OR BETTER AND IN SETTINGS THAT  ARE
    6  FULLY INTEGRATED WITH PERSONS WITH NO IDENTIFIED DISABILITIES.
    7    3.  COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR INDI-
    8  VIDUALS WITH NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO
    9  RECEIVE FUNDING PURSUANT TO THIS  ACT  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  PROVIDING
   10  SUPPORTS  AND  SERVICES  DESCRIBED  IN THIS SECTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
   11  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS.
   12    4. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FUNDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION WILL:
   13    (A) ESTABLISH THAT INDIVIDUALS MEET THE DEFINITION OF "INDIVIDUAL WITH
   14  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED LEARNING DISORDERS" IN ORDER  TO  RECEIVE  SUPPORTS
   15  AND SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PROGRAM. FOR PERSONS PRESENTING FOR
   16  SERVICES WHO DO NOT MEET THIS DEFINITION, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS SHALL
   17  MAKE  REASONABLE  EFFORTS TO REFER SUCH INDIVIDUALS TO PROGRAMS THAT MAY
   18  BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS.
   19    (B)  ASSESS  THE  FUNCTIONAL,  EDUCATIONAL  AND  VOCATIONAL  NEEDS  OF
   20  ENROLLED  INDIVIDUALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROGRAM AS
   21  DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION WITH A WRITTEN NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
   22    (C) ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL  IN  ACQUIRING  NECESSARY  DOCUMENTATION  TO
   23  ESTABLISH THAT SUCH INDIVIDUALS MEET THE DEFINITION OF INDIVIDUAL WITH A
   24  NEUROLOGICALLY-BASED  LEARNING  DISORDER, AND FOR PROVIDING SERVICES AND
   25  SUPPORTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN.
   26    (D) DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN FOR EACH INDI-
   27  VIDUAL ENROLLED TO RECEIVE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS
   28  ARTICLE. SUCH PLAN SHALL HAVE A PRIMARY GOAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVING
   29  THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO  SCHOOL,
   30  ADULT EDUCATION OR CAREER TRAINING, AS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.
   31    (E)  PROVIDE  SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO ENROLLED INDIVIDUALS IN ACCORD-
   32  ANCE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT  PLAN.  SUCH  SERVICES
   33  SHALL INCLUDE SOFT SKILLS TRAINING AND SERVICE NAVIGATION. SUCH SERVICES
   34  MAY  ALSO INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, FUNCTIONAL
   35  LITERACY INSTRUCTION, SELF  ADVOCACY  SKILLS  TRAINING  AND  SUCH  OTHER
   36  SUPPORTS  AND  SERVICES  AS MAY BE SPECIFIED IN THE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION
   37  AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN.
   38    (F) UPON COMPLETION OF THIS  PROGRAM,  COMMUNITY-BASED  PROGRAMS  WILL
   39  REFER  INDIVIDUALS TO A SCHOOL, ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OR CAREER TRAIN-
   40  ING PROGRAM. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL  A
   41  WRITTEN  TRANSITION PLAN IDENTIFYING THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THE INDIVIDUAL
   42  MUST DO TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.  COMMUNI-
   43  TY-BASED PROGRAMS WILL TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE ASSIST  INDIVIDUALS  IN
   44  SECURING A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION.
   45    S 2. This act shall take effect one hundred twenty days after it shall
   46  have become a law.
feedback