SB210: Bill Text

LRB-2599/1

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2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Senate BILL 210

July 16, 2003 - Introduced by Senators Schultz, A. Lasee, Robson, Stepp and Roessler, cosponsored by Representatives Albers, Ott, Musser, Miller, Turner, Gunderson, Petrowski, Grothman, Loeffelholz and Seratti. Referred to Committee on Education, Ethics and Elections.

SB210,1,2 An Act to amend 115.88 (1) and 115.88 (1m) (a) of the statutes; relating to: speech therapy services provided by a special education program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a school district does not receive state special education aid for the costs of contracting with a public or private agency for speech therapy services. This bill explicitly authorizes a school district to contract for speech therapy services and makes the costs of such a contract eligible for special education aid.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB210, s. 1 Section 1. 115.88 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB210,2,6 115.88 (1) Personnel. A school board, board of control of a cooperative educational service agency, or, upon authorization of the county board, a county children with disabilities education board may employ, for a special education program, either full-time or part-time licensed teachers, licensed coordinators of special education, licensed school social workers, licensed school psychologists, paraprofessionals, licensed consulting teachers to work with any teacher of regular education programs who has a child with a disability in a class, and any other personnel approved by the department. The board may contract with private or public agencies for physical or, occupational, or speech therapy services on the basis of demonstrated need.

SB210, s. 2 Section 2. 115.88 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB210,2,17 115.88 (1m) (a) If, upon receipt of the plan under s. 115.77 (4), the state superintendent is satisfied that the special education program has been maintained during the preceding school year in accordance with law, the state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of each county, cooperative educational service agency, and school district maintaining such special education program a sum equal to the amount expended by the county, agency, and school district during the preceding year for salaries of personnel enumerated in sub. (1), including the salary portion of any authorized contract for physical or, occupational, or speech therapy services, and other expenses approved by the state superintendent as costs eligible for reimbursement from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b).

SB210, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB210,2,20 (1) The treatment of section 115.88 (1) and (1m) (a) of the statutes first applies to state aid paid in the 2004-05 fiscal year.

SB210,2,21 (End)