S.B. 196

1

SOFTWARE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser
5 House Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill provides computer software programs and activity manuals to certain students
10 with autism and other special needs.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . requires the State Board of Education to contract with a provider, selected through a
14 request for proposals process, to provide computer software and activity manuals to
15 improve social skills and student achievement for students with autism and other
16 special needs in self-contained classrooms in pre-school through grade 2; and
17 . directs the State Board of Education to distribute the computer software and activity
18 manuals to those school districts and charter schools that demonstrate a
19 commitment to implement as prescribed by the provider.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 This bill appropriates:
22 . to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative
23 Programs, as a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2012-13:
24 . from the Education Fund, $3,000,000.
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 This bill provides an effective date.
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 ENACTS:
29 53A-1a-110, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-110 is enacted to read:
33 53A-1a-110. Computer software to improve social skills and student achievement
34 for students with autism and other special needs.
35 (1) As used in this section, "board" means the State Board of Education.
36 (2) To improve social skills and student achievement for students with autism and
37 other special needs in self-contained classrooms in pre-school through grade 2, the board shall
38 contract with a provider, selected through a request for proposals process, to provide computer
39 software programs and activity manuals.
40 (3) In evaluating proposals submitted under Subsection (2), the board shall:
41 (a) ensure that the board's evaluation criteria weighs heavily the proposer's ability and
42 experience to provide computer software programs and activity manuals to improve social
43 skills and student achievement for students with autism and other special needs in
44 self-contained classrooms in pre-school through grade 2;
45 (b) consider, in evaluating the proposer's ability and experience, any quantitative and
46 evaluative results from field testing, state tests, and other standardized achievement tests;
47 (c) ensure that the board's evaluation criteria weighs heavily the proposer's ability to:
48 (i) collect data from each computer using the computer software, regardless of where
49 the computer is located;
50 (ii) provide students access to the proposer's program from any computer with internet
51 access;
52 (iii) enable reporting of student progress to administrators, teachers, parents, and other
53 facilitators; and
54 (iv) record a student's progress in the computer software; and
55 (d) consider the extent to which the computer software program uses engaging
56 animation to teach students.
57 (4) The board shall provide the computer software programs and activity manuals
58 procured under this section to school districts and charter schools that demonstrate a

59 commitment by the school principal and staff of the self-contained classrooms to implement
60 the computer software programs and activity manuals as prescribed by the provider.
61 Section 2. Appropriation.
62 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
63 following sums of money are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or
64 reduced from amounts previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated for the
65 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. These are additions to any
66 amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2013.
67 To the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
68 From the Education Fund, one-time

$3,000,000

69 Schedule of Programs:
70 Contracts and Grants $3,000,000
71 The Legislature intends that the appropriation under this section:
72 (1) be one-time;
73 (2) be used to carry out the requirements of Section 53A-1a-110 ; and
74 (3) not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2013.
75 Section 3. Effective date.
76 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 8, 2012.
77 (2) Uncodified Section 2, Appropriation, takes effect on July 1, 2012.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-8-12 10:56 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel