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H.C.R. 14

             1     

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING

             2     
CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING OF

             3     
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

             4     
EDUCATION ACT

             5     
2003 GENERAL SESSION

             6     
STATE OF UTAH

             7     
Sponsor: Kory M. Holdaway

             8      This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages the United
             9      States Congress to make funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
             10      mandatory and fulfill its commitment on a long overdue promise to provide funding at
             11      the 40% level.
             12      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             13          WHEREAS, in 1975 the United States took a major step forward in promoting the
             14      inclusion and equality of one of the nation's most disenfranchised groups of citizens;
             15          WHEREAS, passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known
             16      as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), reaffirmed the American principle
             17      that all children deserve a free and appropriate public education;
             18          WHEREAS, the federal government made a commitment to pay 40% of the cost for
             19      children with special educational needs;
             20          WHEREAS, over the years the federal appropriations have ranged from seven to 15%
             21      of the total cost;
             22          WHEREAS, the federal contribution has always fallen short of the congressional
             23      commitment to fully fund IDEA;
             24          WHEREAS, local and state budgets have been forced to absorb the shortfall;
             25          WHEREAS, after 25 years, the magnitude of that shortfall demands a new approach;
             26          WHEREAS, funding for IDEA should be moved out of the discretionary budget and
             27      into mandatory spending for the federal contribution;



             28          WHEREAS, when IDEA funding nears the 40% commitment, schools will be able to
             29      free up resources for other educational programs and services; and
             30          WHEREAS, the United States Congress plans to review this issue during the current
             31      session:
             32          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             33      Governor concurring therein, urgently and respectfully request that the United States Congress
             34      make special education funding mandatory and fulfill its commitment on a long overdue
             35      promise to provide funding at the 40% level.
             36          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
             37      the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the United
             38      States Secretary of Education, and the members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-18-03 5:14 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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