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Third Substitute H.B. 115

Representative Merlynn T. Newbold proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CARSON SMITH SPECIAL NEEDS

             2     
SCHOLARSHIPS

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: J. Morgan Philpot

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who
             10      attend a private school.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    specifies criteria for qualifying for a scholarship;
             14          .    specifies criteria for private schools to enroll scholarship students;
             15          .    specifies the amount, timing, and form of scholarship payments;
             16          .    requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
             17          .    gives the State Board of Education enforcement authority; and
             18          .    requires the Legislature to annually appropriate money from the General Fund for
             19      scholarship payments.
             20      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          This bill appropriates:
             22          .     as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $100,000 from the
             23      Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2004-05 to the State Board of Education.
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None



             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:
             28          53A-3-410, as last amended by Chapter 377, Laws of Utah 1999
             29      ENACTS:
             30          53A-1a-701, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          53A-1a-702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          53A-1a-703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          53A-1a-704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          53A-1a-705, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          53A-1a-706, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          53A-1a-707, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          53A-1a-708, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          53A-1a-709, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 53A-1a-701 is enacted to read:
             42     
Part 7. Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act

             43          53A-1a-701. Title.
             44          This part is known as the "Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs
             45      Act."
             46          Section 2. Section 53A-1a-702 is enacted to read:
             47          53A-1a-702. Findings and purpose.
             48          (1) The Legislature finds that:
             49          (a) the state system of public education as established and maintained under the state
             50      constitution is charged with making available a free public education for all children of the
             51      state;
             52          (b) students with disabilities have special needs that merit educational alternatives
             53      which will allow students to learn in an appropriate setting and manner;
             54          (c) those needs may include teachers trained in special teaching methods, small class
             55      sizes, and special materials, equipment, and classroom environments;
             56          (d) the establishment of this scholarship program is justified on the basis of funding the



             57      special needs of students with disabilities as with other programs similarly funded by the state
             58      for people with disabilities; and
             59          (e) nothing in this part shall be construed as a basis for granting vouchers or tuition tax
             60      credits for any other students, with or without disabilities.
             61          (2) The purpose of this part, in accordance with the best interests of the taxpayers and
             62      citizens of this state, is to encourage educational opportunities and provide limited financial
             63      assistance for students with disabilities whose parents enroll their child in a private school
             64      when it is determined that the student's needs are best met by the private school.
             65          Section 3. Section 53A-1a-703 is enacted to read:
             66          53A-1a-703. Definitions.
             67          As used in this part:
             68          (1) "Assessment team" means a team consisting of:
             69          (a) the student's parent or guardian;
             70          (b) the student's classroom teacher;
             71          (c) special education personnel from the student's resident school district; and
             72          (d) if available, special education personnel from the private school at which the
             73      student is enrolled.
             74          (2) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
             75          (3) "Eligible private school" means a private school that meets the requirements of
             76      Section 53A-1a-705 .
             77          (4) "IEP" means a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed,
             78      reviewed, and revised in accordance with board rules and the Individuals with Disabilities
             79      Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et. seq.
             80          (5) "Scholarship student" means a student who receives a scholarship under this part.
             81          (6) "Value of the weighted pupil unit" means the amount specified in Section
             82      53A-17a-103 that is multiplied by the number of weighted pupil units to yield the funding level
             83      for the basic state-supported school program.
             84          Section 4. Section 53A-1a-704 is enacted to read:
             85          53A-1a-704. Scholarship program created -- Qualifications.
             86          (1) The Carson Smith Scholarship Program is created to award scholarships to students
             87      with disabilities to attend a private school.


             88          (2) To qualify for a scholarship:
             89          (a) the student's custodial parent or legal guardian shall reside within Utah;
             90          (b) the student shall have one or more of the following disabilities:
             91          (i) mental retardation;
             92          (ii) a hearing impairment;
             93          (iii) a speech or language impairment;
             94          (iv) a visual impairment;
             95          (v) a serious emotional disturbance;
             96          (vi) an orthopedic impairment;
             97          (vii) autism;
             98          (viii) traumatic brain injury;
             99          (ix) other health impairment; or
             100          (x) specific learning disabilities;
             101          (c) the student shall be at least five years of age before September 2 of the year in
             102      which admission to a private school is sought and under 19 years of age on the last day of the
             103      school year as determined by the private school, or, if the individual has not graduated from
             104      high school with a regular diploma, will be under 22 years of age on the last of the school year
             105      as determined by the private school; and
             106          (d) except as provided in Subsection (3), the student shall:
             107          (i) be enrolled in a Utah public school in the school year prior to the school year the
             108      student will be enrolled in a private school;
             109          (ii) have an IEP; and
             110          (iii) have obtained acceptance for admission to an eligible private school.
             111          (3) The board shall provide, by rule, for a waiver from the requirements of Subsection
             112      (2)(c) in the following circumstances:
             113          (a) the student is enrolled or has obtained acceptance for admission to an eligible
             114      private school;
             115          (b) the private school specializes in serving students with disabilities; and
             116          (c) an assessment team is able to readily determine with reasonable certainty:
             117          (i) that the student has a disability listed in Subsection (2)(b) and would qualify for
             118      special education services, if enrolled in a public school; and


             119          (ii) for the purpose of establishing the scholarship amount, the appropriate level of
             120      special education services which should be provided to the student.
             121          (4) (a) To receive a scholarship:
             122          (i) the parent of a student meeting the qualifications of Subsection (2) shall submit an
             123      application for the scholarship to the school district within which the student is enrolled:
             124          (A) at least 60 days before the date of the first scholarship payment; and
             125          (B) that contains a certification by the parent that the selected school is qualified and
             126      capable of providing the level of special education services required for student; and
             127          (ii) the parent of a student seeking a waiver pursuant to Subsection (3) shall submit an
             128      application for the scholarship to the student's resident school district at least 60 days before
             129      the date of the first scholarship payment.
             130          (b) The board may provide, by rule, for a waiver of the 60-day application deadline.
             131          (5) (a) The scholarship application form shall include a statement disclosing to
             132      applicants that a private school may not provide the same level of special education services
             133      that are provided in a public school.
             134          (b) Upon acceptance of the scholarship, the parent assumes full financial responsibility
             135      for the education of the scholarship student.
             136          (c) The creation of the scholarship program or granting of a scholarship does not:
             137          (i) imply that a public school did not provide a free and appropriate public education
             138      for a student; or
             139          (ii) constitute a waiver or admission by the state.
             140          (6) (a) A scholarship shall remain in force for three years.
             141          (b) A scholarship may be extended for an additional three years, if:
             142          (i) the student is evaluated by an assessment team; and
             143          (ii) the assessment team determines that the student is disabled and would qualify for
             144      special education services, if enrolled in a public school.
             145          (c) The assessment team shall determine the appropriate level of special education
             146      services which should be provided to the student for the purpose of setting the scholarship
             147      amount.
             148          (d) A scholarship may be extended for successive three-year periods as provided in
             149      Subsections (6)(b) and (6)(c) until the student graduates from high school.


             150          (7) A student's parent, at any time, may remove the student from a private school and
             151      place the student in another eligible private school and retain the scholarship.
             152          (8) A scholarship student may not participate in a dual enrollment program pursuant to
             153      Section 53A-11-102.5 .
             154          Section 5. Section 53A-1a-705 is enacted to read:
             155          53A-1a-705. Eligible private schools.
             156          (1) To be eligible to enroll a scholarship student, a private school may be a sectarian or
             157      nonsectarian school and shall:
             158          (a) have a physical location in Utah where the scholarship students attend classes and
             159      have direct contact with the school's teachers;
             160          (b) demonstrate fiscal soundness in accordance with Subsection (4);
             161          (c) comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d;
             162          (d) meet state and local health and safety laws and codes;
             163          (e) disclose to the parent of each prospective student, before the student is enrolled, the
             164      special education services that will be provided to the student, including the cost of those
             165      services;
             166          (f) (i) administer an annual assessment of each scholarship student's academic
             167      progress; and
             168          (ii) report the results of the assessment to the student's parent;
             169          (g) employ or contract with teachers who:
             170          (i) hold baccalaureate or higher degrees;
             171          (ii) have at least three years of teaching experience in public or private schools; or
             172          (iii) have special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide
             173      instruction:
             174          (A) in the subjects taught; and
             175          (B) to the students taught;
             176          (h) provide to parents the relevant credentials of the teachers who will be teaching their
             177      students; and
             178          (i) adhere to the tenets of its published disciplinary procedures prior to the expulsion of
             179      a scholarship student.
             180          (2) A home school is not eligible to enroll scholarship students.


             181          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a private school intending to enroll
             182      scholarship students shall submit an application to the board by May 1 of the school year
             183      preceding the school year in which it intends to enroll scholarship students.
             184          (b) A private school intending to enroll scholarship students in the 2004-05 school year
             185      shall submit an application by June 15, 2004.
             186          (4) To initially demonstrate financial soundness, the board may require a private school
             187      to obtain an audit and opinion letter from an independent certified public accountant showing
             188      that the school is insured and has sufficient funds to maintain operations for the full school
             189      year.
             190          (5) The board shall:
             191          (a) approve a private school's application to enroll scholarship students, if the private
             192      school meets the eligibility requirements of this section; and
             193          (b) make available to the public a list of the eligible private schools.
             194          Section 6. Section 53A-1a-706 is enacted to read:
             195          53A-1a-706. Scholarship payments.
             196          (1) (a) Scholarships shall be awarded by the board subject to the availability of money
             197      appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
             198          (b) The Legislature shall annually appropriate money to the board from the General
             199      Fund to make scholarship payments.
             200          (c) If monies are not available to pay for all scholarships requested, the scholarships
             201      shall be allocated in accordance with board rules, with preference given to students who
             202      received scholarships in the previous school year.
             203          (2) Full-year scholarships shall be awarded in the following amounts:
             204          (a) for a student who received an average of 180 minutes per day or more of special
             205      education services in a public school before transferring to a private school, an amount not to
             206      exceed the lesser of:
             207          (i) the value of the weighted pupil unit multiplied by 2.5; or
             208          (ii) the private school tuition and fees; and
             209          (b) for a student who received an average of less than 180 minutes per day of special
             210      education services in a public school before transferring to a private school, an amount not to
             211      exceed the lesser of:


             212          (i) the value of the weighted pupil unit multiplied by 1.5; or
             213          (ii) the private school tuition and fees.
             214          (3) The scholarship amount for a student enrolled in a half-day kindergarten program
             215      shall be the amount specified in Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b) multiplied by .55.
             216          (4) (a) The scholarship amount for a student who receives a waiver under Subsection
             217      53A-1a-704 (3) shall be based upon the assessment team's determination of the appropriate
             218      level of special education services to be provided to the student.
             219          (b) (i) If the student requires an average of 180 minutes per day or more of special
             220      education services, a full-year scholarship shall be equal to the amount specified in Subsection
             221      (2)(a).
             222          (ii) If the student requires less than an average of 180 minutes per day of special
             223      education services, a full-year scholarship shall be equal to the amount specified in Subsection
             224      (2)(b).
             225          (iii) If the student is enrolled in a half-day kindergarten program, the scholarship is
             226      equal to the amount specified in Subsection (3).
             227          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), upon review and receipt of the
             228      documentation required by the board to verify a student's admission to, or continuing
             229      enrollment and attendance at, a private school, the board shall make scholarship payments in
             230      four equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, February 1, and April 15 of each
             231      school year in which a scholarship is in force.
             232          (b) In accordance with board rule, the board may make a scholarship payment before
             233      the first quarterly payment of the school year, if a private school requires partial payment of
             234      tuition before the start of the school year to reserve space for a student admitted to the school.
             235          (6) Before scholarship payments are made, the board shall cross-check enrollment lists
             236      of scholarship students, school districts, and youth in custody to ensure that scholarship
             237      payments are not erroneously made.
             238          (7) (a) Scholarship payments shall be made by the board by individual warrant made
             239      payable to the student's parent and mailed by the board to the private school. The parent shall
             240      restrictively endorse the warrant to the private school for deposit into the account of the private
             241      school.
             242          (b) A person, on behalf of a private school, may not accept a power of attorney from a


             243      parent to sign a warrant referred to in Subsection (7)(a), and a parent of a scholarship student
             244      may not give a power of attorney designating a person, on behalf of a private school, as the
             245      parent's attorney-in-fact.
             246          Section 7. Section 53A-1a-707 is enacted to read:
             247          53A-1a-707. Board to make rules.
             248          The board shall make rules for the administration of the scholarship program.
             249          Section 8. Section 53A-1a-708 is enacted to read:
             250          53A-1a-708. Enforcement and penalties.
             251          (1) (a) The board shall require private schools to submit signed affidavits assuring the
             252      private school will comply with the requirements of this part and board rules made under this
             253      part.
             254          (b) If a school fails to submit a signed affidavit after having an opportunity to provide
             255      explanations and request delays, the board may:
             256          (i) deny the private school permission to enroll scholarship students; and
             257          (ii) interrupt disbursement of or withhold scholarship payments.
             258          (2) The board may:
             259          (a) investigate complaints about a private school's or parent's failure to comply with
             260      this part or board rules made under this part; and
             261          (b) convene administrative hearings for a violation of this part or board rules.
             262          (3) Upon a finding that a private school or parent failed to comply with this part or
             263      board rules made under this part, the board may:
             264          (a) deny a private school permission to enroll scholarship students;
             265          (b) interrupt disbursement of or withhold scholarship payments; or
             266          (c) issue an order for repayment of scholarship payments fraudulently obtained.
             267          Section 9. Section 53A-1a-709 is enacted to read:
             268          53A-1a-709. Limitation on regulation of private schools.
             269          Nothing in this part grants additional authority to any state agency or school district to
             270      regulate private schools except as expressly set forth in this part.
             271          Section 10. Section 53A-3-410 is amended to read:
             272           53A-3-410. Criminal background checks on school personnel -- Notice -- Payment
             273      of cost -- Request for review.


             274          (1) A school district superintendent or the superintendent's designee:
             275          (a) shall require a potential employee or a volunteer who will be given significant
             276      unsupervised access to a student in connection with the volunteer's assignment to submit to a
             277      criminal background check as a condition for employment or appointment; and
             278          (b) where reasonable cause exists, may require an existing employee or volunteer to
             279      submit to a criminal background check.
             280          (2) The chief administrative officer of a private school may require, and the chief
             281      administrative officer of the private school that enrolls scholarship students under Chapter 1a,
             282      Part 7, Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act, shall require:
             283          (a) a potential employee or volunteer to submit to a criminal background check as a
             284      condition for employment or appointment; and
             285          (b) where reasonable cause exists, an existing employee or volunteer to submit to a
             286      criminal background check.
             287          (3) The applicant, volunteer, or employee shall receive written notice that the
             288      background check has been requested.
             289          (4) (a) (i) Fingerprints of the individual shall be taken, and the Criminal Investigations
             290      and Technical Services Division of the Department of Public Safety, established in Section
             291      53-10-103 , shall release the individual's full record of criminal convictions to the administrator
             292      requesting the information.
             293          (ii) The division shall maintain a separate file of fingerprints submitted under
             294      Subsection (4)(a)(i) and notify the State Office of Education when a new entry is made against
             295      a person whose fingerprints are held in the file regarding:
             296          (A) any matters involving an alleged sexual offense;
             297          (B) any matters involving an alleged felony or class A misdemeanor drug offense; or
             298          (C) any matters involving an alleged offense against the person under Title 76, Chapter
             299      5, Offenses Against the Person.
             300          (iii) The cost of maintaining the separate file shall be paid by the State Office of
             301      Education from fees charged to those submitting fingerprints.
             302          (b) Information received by the division from entities other than agencies or political
             303      subdivisions of the state may not be released to a private school unless the release is
             304      permissible under applicable laws or regulations of the entity providing the information.


             305          (5) The superintendent, local school board, or their counterparts at a private school
             306      shall consider only those convictions which are job-related for the employee, applicant, or
             307      volunteer.
             308          (6) (a) The district or private school shall pay the cost of the background check except
             309      as otherwise provided in Subsection (6)(b), and the monies collected shall be credited to the
             310      Criminal Investigations and Technical Services Division to offset its expenses.
             311          (b) The district or private school may require an applicant to pay the costs of a
             312      background check as a condition for consideration for employment or appointment, if:
             313          (i) the applicant:
             314          (A) has passed an initial review;
             315          (B) is one of a pool of no more than five candidates for a position; and
             316          (C) except as may be otherwise provided by state board rule for an applicant who
             317      submitted to a background check while completing a higher education program at a Utah
             318      institution of higher education, has not been the subject of a criminal background check of
             319      similar scope during the preceding two years that was requested by a potential employer or the
             320      State Board of Education; and
             321          (ii) a copy of the background check is provided to the district or school considering
             322      employment or appointment of the applicant.
             323          (7) The Criminal Investigations and Technical Services Division shall, upon request,
             324      seek additional information from regional or national criminal data files in responding to
             325      inquiries under this section.
             326          (8) (a) A private school seeking information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
             327      or other national criminal data file which the private school may not access directly shall
             328      submit its request to the Teacher Certification Section of the State Board of Education, together
             329      with the required fee and the school's criminal data-related criteria for limiting or rejecting
             330      employment.
             331          (b) The section shall submit the request and, upon receiving the requested information,
             332      shall determine whether the subject of the inquiry is entitled to employment under the school's
             333      criteria.
             334          (c) The section shall disclose its determination to the school but may not disclose the
             335      data in the national criminal data file.


             336          (9) (a) The applicant, volunteer, or employee shall have opportunity to respond to any
             337      information received as a result of the background check.
             338          (b) A private school applicant, volunteer, or employee who wishes to respond shall:
             339          (i) submit a request to the school; and
             340          (ii) give a written statement to the Teacher Certification Office authorizing the office to
             341      release the background check information to a hearing officer selected by the individual and the
             342      school.
             343          (c) The individual and the school shall equally share any costs incurred under
             344      Subsection (9)(b).
             345          (d) A public agency shall resolve any request for review by an applicant, volunteer, or
             346      employee seeking employment or employed by the agency through normal administrative
             347      procedures established by the agency.
             348          (10) If a person is denied employment or is dismissed from employment because of
             349      information obtained through a criminal background check, the person shall receive written
             350      notice of the reasons for denial or dismissal and have an opportunity to respond to the reasons
             351      under the procedures set forth in Subsection (9).
             352          (11) Information obtained under this part is confidential and may only be disclosed as
             353      provided in this section.
             354          Section 11. Appropriation.
             355          As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
             356      from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2004-05, $100,000 to the State Board of
             357      Education to fund administration of the Carson Smith Scholarship Program.


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