Bill Text: NY S07093 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to establishing a dyslexia task force and implementing the findings of such task force.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S07093 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S07093-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7093 IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2020 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a dysle- xia task force and implementing the findings of such task force 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 two new sections 2 4407-a and 4407-b to read as follows: 3 § 4407-a. Dyslexia; task force. 1. The task force on dyslexia is here- 4 by created within the department to develop guidelines for the appropri- 5 ate screening of students for dyslexia and related disorders, provide 6 guidelines regarding the appropriate interventions and classroom support 7 for students deemed at risk, and to develop a program of study for 8 teachers to better help students with dyslexia. 9 2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have 10 the following meanings: 11 (a) The term "dyslexia" shall mean an unexpected difficulty in reading 12 for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, 13 most commonly caused by a difficulty in the phonological processing, the 14 appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language, which affects 15 the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell. 16 (b) The term "screening program" shall mean a dyslexia screening 17 program which is: (i) evidence based with proven psychometrics for 18 validity; (ii) efficient and low cost; and (iii) readily available. 19 (c) The term "related disorders" shall mean disorders similar to or 20 related to dyslexia including, but not limited to, developmental audito- 21 ry imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia, develop- 22 mental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability. 23 (d) The term "support" shall mean low-cost and effective best prac- 24 tices including, but not limited to, oral examinations and extended 25 test-taking periods used to support students who have dyslexia or any 26 related disorder. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD14035-03-9S. 7093 2 1 3. (a) Such task force shall consist of ten members, each to serve for 2 a term of three calendar years. Such members shall be appointed as 3 follows: four members shall be appointed by the governor; two members 4 shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; one member 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; two members 6 shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and one member shall 7 be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. Appointments shall 8 be made on or before July first, two thousand twenty. Vacancies in the 9 task force shall be filled in the manner provided for original appoint- 10 ments. 11 (b) Such members shall include: two physicians and/or scientists who 12 work with dyslexic persons; two educators who specialize in educating 13 dyslexic persons; one parent advocate; one dyslexic person; and one 14 person who works for the state university who is an expert in dyslexia. 15 All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic represen- 16 tation from the entire state. 17 (c) The task force shall consist of a chair, vice-chair and any other 18 necessary officers shall be elected from among all the appointed 19 members. 20 (d) A majority of the members of the task force then in office shall 21 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of 22 any power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci- 23 sion of the majority of the members present during the presence of a 24 quorum shall be held to be the act, determination, or decision of the 25 task force. 26 (e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the 27 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be 28 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the 29 task force. 30 (f) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their 31 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in 32 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force. 33 4. The task force established shall: 34 (a) Study screening programs for identifying dyslexic persons; 35 (b) Study intervention and classroom support services for dyslexic 36 persons; 37 (c) Develop guidelines for appropriate screening programs, inter- 38 vention services and classroom support for dyslexic persons; and 39 (d) Develop a program of study in the diagnosis and remediation of 40 reading and language arts that includes supervised practicum hours and 41 instruction in the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based 42 structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia and other 43 related disorders. 44 5. The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies, 45 surveys, or analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be 46 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori- 47 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities 48 shall provide information and advice in a timely manner and otherwise 49 assist the task force with its work. 50 6. The department shall provide staff services to the task force and 51 such other administrative assistance as may be necessary for the task 52 force to carry out its duties, functions and powers. 53 7. The task force shall hold a minimum of three public hearings each 54 year: one in New York city; one in western New York; and one in upstate 55 eastern New York. The task force may hold additional public hearings in 56 other locations as it deems appropriate.S. 7093 3 1 8. The task force shall issue a report to the governor and the legis- 2 lature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities 3 already undertaken by the task force, not later than September first, 4 two thousand twenty-one and shall submit with its reports legislative 5 proposals as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations, the 6 guidelines developed under paragraph (c) of subdivision four of this 7 section, and the program of study developed under paragraph (d) of 8 subdivision four of this section. 9 9. On or before December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one, the 10 department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the 11 guidelines and program of study developed by the task force which were 12 submitted in the task force's report. 13 10. Nothing in this section shall require a student with dyslexia to 14 obtain an individualized education program unless the student has other- 15 wise met the federal conditions necessary. 16 § 4407-b. Dyslexia; screening and intervention. 1. For the purposes of 17 this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 18 (a) The term "dyslexia" shall mean an unexpected difficulty in reading 19 for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, 20 most commonly caused by a difficulty in the phonological processing, the 21 appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language, which affects 22 the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell. 23 (b) The term "screening program" shall mean a dyslexia screening 24 program which is: (i) evidence based with proven psychometrics for 25 validity; (ii) efficient and low cost; and (iii) readily available. 26 (c) The term "related disorders" shall mean disorders similar to or 27 related to dyslexia including, but not limited to, developmental audito- 28 ry imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia, develop- 29 mental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability. 30 (d) The term "support" shall mean low-cost and effective best prac- 31 tices including, but not limited to, oral examinations and extended 32 test-taking periods used to support students who have dyslexia or any 33 related disorder. 34 2. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-two, each public 35 school shall conduct a dyslexia screening program and shall provide 36 interventions based on the rules and regulations promulgated under 37 subdivision nine of section forty-four hundred seven-a of this article. 38 3. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-two, any certified 39 educator applying for a comprehensive special education or integrated 40 early childhood and special education endorsement or applicant for an 41 initial, provisional or professional educator certificate and a compre- 42 hensive special education or integrated early childhood and special 43 education endorsement shall have completed a program of study in the 44 diagnosis and remediation of reading and language arts that includes 45 supervised practicum hours and instruction in the detection and recogni- 46 tion of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, 47 students with dyslexia and other related disorders. 48 4. Nothing in this act shall require a student with dyslexia to obtain 49 an individualized education program unless the student has otherwise met 50 the federal conditions necessary. 51 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.