SB310: Bill Text

SB310,9,6 115.54 Compulsory education. If it appears, by affidavit, to any circuit judge that any blind or deaf child between the ages of 6 and 21 is deprived of a suitable education by the failure of the person having the care and custody of the child to provide a suitable education, the judge shall order the person to bring the child before the judge. If the material allegations of the affidavit are denied, the judge shall subpoena witnesses and hear testimony. If the allegations are admitted or established, the judge may, if appropriate, order the child sent to the school for the visually handicapped or for the deaf or to some class or other school for instruction, but the order shall not make a direct charge for the class or school against any county.

SB310, s. 29 Section 29. 115.55 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,9,15 115.55 Library for the blind and visually handicapped. Embossed, clear type or large type text books acquired by the school for the visually handicapped department shall constitute a circulating collection for the blind and visually handicapped. The collection shall be kept at the school and be under the supervision of its superintendent the department. All blind and visually handicapped school age children of the state may use such books upon compliance with rules made by the superintendent and approved by the department with the approval of the department.

SB310, s. 30 Section 30. 115.58 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,9,24 115.58 (title) Park grounds of the former state school for the visually handicapped. The department state superintendent may, with the approval of the department of administration, permit the city of Janesville to use portions of the grounds of the former state school for the visually handicapped at Janesville, which abut on the Rock river, for purposes of operating a city park. Any construction on such grounds is subject to prior approval by the department state superintendent. Any agreement pursuant hereto shall be cancelable at the option of either party without liability. Any such grounds so used by the city of Janesville shall be supervised by the city and shall be subject to the ordinances of the city of Janesville applicable to city parks.

SB310, s. 31 Section 31. 115.77 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,10,6 115.77 (3) (a) Services for children with exceptional educational needs who are under the jurisdiction of the department state superintendent and for the Wisconsin school for the deaf and the Wisconsin school for the visually handicapped.

SB310, s. 32 Section 32. 115.88 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,10,22 115.88 (2) Transportation aid. If upon receipt of the report under s. 115.84 the department state superintendent is satisfied that the transportation of children with exceptional educational needs has been maintained during the preceding year in accordance with the law, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of each county, cooperative educational service agency or school district transporting such pupils 63% of the amount expended for such transportation. Pupils for whom aid is paid under this subsection shall not be eligible for aid under s. 121.58 (2) or (4). The department of administration shall pay such amounts to the county, agency or school district from the appropriations appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) and (u). This subsection applies to any child with exceptional educational needs who requires special assistance in transportation, including any such child attending regular classes who requires special or additional transportation. This subsection does not apply to any child with exceptional educational needs attending regular or special classes who does not require any special or additional transportation.

SB310, s. 33 Section 33. 115.88 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB310,11,6 115.88 (8m) Aid for creating and improving programs and services for children with visual disabilities. The full cost of salaries, fringe benefits and other approved costs attributable to providing new and expanded educational and related programs and services for children with visual disabilities shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bj). If the program or service is eligible for aid under subs. (1) to (6) or (8) and under this subsection, the department shall consider it eligible for aid only under this subsection. This subsection does not apply after June 30, 2004.

SB310, s. 34 Section 34. 115.882 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,11,17 115.882 Proration of state aid. If In the 1999-2000 to 2003-04 fiscal years, if the sum of the appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (b) and (u) (bj) in any one fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under ss. 115.88 and 118.255, state aid payments the funds shall be used first for the purpose of s. 115.88 (8m) and any remaining funds shall be prorated among the counties, school districts and cooperative educational service agencies entitled thereto. In the 2004-05 fiscal year and thereafter, if the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under ss. 115.88 and 118.255, state aid payments shall be prorated among the counties, school districts and cooperative education service agencies entitled thereto.

SB310, s. 35 Section 35. 115.93 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,11,24 115.93 (2) If Subject to s. 115.882, if the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) in any year the 1999-2000 to 2003-04 fiscal years is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under sub. (1), state aid payments shall be prorated among the entitled school districts. In the 2004-05 fiscal year and thereafter, if the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under sub. (1), state aid payments shall be prorated among the entitled school districts.

SB310, s. 36 Section 36. 121.05 (1) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,12,6 121.05 (1) (a) 8. Pupils enrolled in a the residential school operated by the state under subch. III of ch. 115 for whom the school district is paying tuition under s. 115.53 (2) determined by multiplying the total number of periods in each day in which the pupils are enrolled in the local public school by the total number of days for which the pupils are enrolled in the local public school and dividing the product by 1,080.

SB310, s. 37 Section 37. 121.54 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,12,17 121.54 (3) Transportation for children with exceptional educational needs. Every school board shall provide transportation for children with exceptional educational needs, as defined in s. 115.76 (3), to any public or private elementary or high school, to the Wisconsin school for the visually handicapped or the Wisconsin school for the deaf or to any special educational program for children with exceptional educational needs sponsored by a state tax-supported institution of higher education, regardless of distance, if the request for such transportation is approved by the department state superintendent. Approval shall be based on whether or not the child can walk to school with safety and comfort. Section 121.53 shall apply to transportation provided under this subsection.

SB310, s. 38 Section 38. 940.295 (1) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,12,20 940.295 (1) (q) "State school for the visually handicapped or hearing impaired" means any schools the school described in s. 115.52 (2).

SB310, s. 39 Section 39. 940.295 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB310,12,23 940.295 (2) (j) A The state school for the visually handicapped or hearing impaired.

SB310, s. 40 Section 40 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB310,13,6 (1) Not later than August 1, 1998, the department of administration shall determine the amount appropriated in the 1998-99 fiscal year under section 20.255 (1) (b) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1997, that will be saved by the closing of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. The department of public instruction shall ensure that the amount determined by the department of administration under this subsection lapses to the general fund.

SB310, s. 41 Section 41. Initial applicability.

SB310,13,10 (1) The treatment of sections 20.255 (2) (bj), 115.88 (8m), 115.882 and 115.93 (2) of the statutes first applies to the payment of special education aid in the 1999-2000 school year.

SB310, s. 42 Section 42. Effective dates. This act takes effect on July 1, 1998, except as follows:

SB310,13,14 (1) The treatment of sections 20.255 (2) (bj), 115.882 and 115.93 (2) of the statutes takes effect on July 1, 1999.

SB310,13,15 (End)