S07093 Summary:

BILL NOS07093
 
SAME ASSAME AS A08786-A
 
SPONSORHOYLMAN
 
COSPNSRBOYLE, JACKSON, MARTINEZ, METZGER, ROBACH, SKOUFIS
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §§4407-a & 4407-b, Ed L
 
Relates to establishing a dyslexia task force and implementing the findings of such task force.
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S07093 Actions:

BILL NOS07093
 
01/08/2020REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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S07093 Committee Votes:

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S07093 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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S07093 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          7093
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                       (Prefiled)
 
                                     January 8, 2020
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a  dysle-
          xia task force and implementing the findings of such task force
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The education law is amended by  adding  two  new  sections
     2  4407-a and 4407-b to read as follows:
     3    § 4407-a. Dyslexia; task force. 1. The task force on dyslexia is here-
     4  by created within the department to develop guidelines for the appropri-
     5  ate  screening  of  students for dyslexia and related disorders, provide
     6  guidelines regarding the appropriate interventions and classroom support
     7  for students deemed at risk, and to  develop  a  program  of  study  for
     8  teachers to better help students with dyslexia.
     9    2.  For  the  purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
    10  the following meanings:
    11    (a) The term "dyslexia" shall mean an unexpected difficulty in reading
    12  for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much  better  reader,
    13  most commonly caused by a difficulty in the phonological processing, the
    14  appreciation  of the individual sounds of spoken language, which affects
    15  the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell.
    16    (b) The term "screening  program"  shall  mean  a  dyslexia  screening
    17  program  which  is:  (i)  evidence  based  with proven psychometrics for
    18  validity; (ii) efficient and low cost; and (iii) readily available.
    19    (c) The term "related disorders" shall mean disorders  similar  to  or
    20  related to dyslexia including, but not limited to, developmental audito-
    21  ry  imperception,  dysphasia,  specific developmental dyslexia, develop-
    22  mental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
    23    (d) The term "support" shall mean low-cost and  effective  best  prac-
    24  tices  including,  but  not  limited  to, oral examinations and extended
    25  test-taking periods used to support students who have  dyslexia  or  any
    26  related disorder.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14035-03-9

        S. 7093                             2
 
     1    3. (a) Such task force shall consist of ten members, each to serve for
     2  a  term  of  three  calendar  years.  Such members shall be appointed as
     3  follows: four members shall be appointed by the  governor;  two  members
     4  shall  be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; one member
     5  shall  be  appointed  by  the minority leader of the senate; two members
     6  shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and one member  shall
     7  be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.  Appointments shall
     8  be  made  on or before July first, two thousand twenty. Vacancies in the
     9  task force shall be filled in the manner provided for original  appoint-
    10  ments.
    11    (b)  Such  members shall include: two physicians and/or scientists who
    12  work with dyslexic persons; two educators who  specialize  in  educating
    13  dyslexic  persons;  one  parent  advocate;  one dyslexic person; and one
    14  person who works for the state university who is an expert in  dyslexia.
    15  All  appointments  shall  be  coordinated to ensure geographic represen-
    16  tation from the entire state.
    17    (c) The task force shall consist of a chair, vice-chair and any  other
    18  necessary  officers  shall  be  elected  from  among  all  the appointed
    19  members.
    20    (d) A majority of the members of the task force then in  office  shall
    21  constitute  a  quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of
    22  any power or function of the task force. An act, determination or  deci-
    23  sion  of  the  majority  of the members present during the presence of a
    24  quorum shall be held to be the act, determination, or  decision  of  the
    25  task force.
    26    (e)  The  task  force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
    27  chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may  be
    28  called  by  the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
    29  task force.
    30    (f) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for  their
    31  services  but  shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
    32  the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
    33    4. The task force established shall:
    34    (a) Study screening programs for identifying dyslexic persons;
    35    (b) Study intervention and classroom  support  services  for  dyslexic
    36  persons;
    37    (c)  Develop  guidelines  for  appropriate  screening programs, inter-
    38  vention services and classroom support for dyslexic persons; and
    39    (d) Develop a program of study in the  diagnosis  and  remediation  of
    40  reading  and  language arts that includes supervised practicum hours and
    41  instruction in the detection  and  recognition  of,  and  evidence-based
    42  structured  literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia and other
    43  related disorders.
    44    5. The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that  studies,
    45  surveys,  or  analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
    46  performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
    47  ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or  public  authorities
    48  shall  provide  information  and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
    49  assist the task force with its work.
    50    6. The department shall provide staff services to the task  force  and
    51  such  other  administrative  assistance as may be necessary for the task
    52  force to carry out its duties, functions and powers.
    53    7. The task force shall hold a minimum of three public  hearings  each
    54  year:  one in New York city; one in western New York; and one in upstate
    55  eastern New York.  The task force may hold additional public hearings in
    56  other locations as it deems appropriate.

        S. 7093                             3
 
     1    8. The task force shall issue a report to the governor and the  legis-
     2  lature  of  its  findings,  conclusions,  recommendations and activities
     3  already undertaken by the task force, not later  than  September  first,
     4  two  thousand  twenty-one  and shall submit with its reports legislative
     5  proposals  as  it  deems necessary to implement its recommendations, the
     6  guidelines developed under paragraph (c) of  subdivision  four  of  this
     7  section,  and  the  program  of  study  developed under paragraph (d) of
     8  subdivision four of this section.
     9    9. On or before December thirty-first, two  thousand  twenty-one,  the
    10  department  shall  promulgate  rules  and  regulations  to implement the
    11  guidelines and program of study developed by the task force  which  were
    12  submitted in the task force's report.
    13    10.  Nothing  in this section shall require a student with dyslexia to
    14  obtain an individualized education program unless the student has other-
    15  wise met the federal conditions necessary.
    16    § 4407-b. Dyslexia; screening and intervention. 1. For the purposes of
    17  this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
    18    (a) The term "dyslexia" shall mean an unexpected difficulty in reading
    19  for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much  better  reader,
    20  most commonly caused by a difficulty in the phonological processing, the
    21  appreciation  of the individual sounds of spoken language, which affects
    22  the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell.
    23    (b) The term "screening  program"  shall  mean  a  dyslexia  screening
    24  program  which  is:  (i)  evidence  based  with proven psychometrics for
    25  validity; (ii) efficient and low cost; and (iii) readily available.
    26    (c) The term "related disorders" shall mean disorders  similar  to  or
    27  related to dyslexia including, but not limited to, developmental audito-
    28  ry  imperception,  dysphasia,  specific developmental dyslexia, develop-
    29  mental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
    30    (d) The term "support" shall mean low-cost and  effective  best  prac-
    31  tices  including,  but  not  limited  to, oral examinations and extended
    32  test-taking periods used to support students who have  dyslexia  or  any
    33  related disorder.
    34    2.  On  or  before  July  first,  two thousand twenty-two, each public
    35  school shall conduct a dyslexia  screening  program  and  shall  provide
    36  interventions  based  on  the  rules  and  regulations promulgated under
    37  subdivision nine of section forty-four hundred seven-a of this article.
    38    3. On or before July first, two  thousand  twenty-two,  any  certified
    39  educator  applying  for  a comprehensive special education or integrated
    40  early childhood and special education endorsement or  applicant  for  an
    41  initial,  provisional or professional educator certificate and a compre-
    42  hensive special education or  integrated  early  childhood  and  special
    43  education  endorsement  shall  have  completed a program of study in the
    44  diagnosis and remediation of reading and  language  arts  that  includes
    45  supervised practicum hours and instruction in the detection and recogni-
    46  tion  of,  and  evidence-based  structured  literacy  interventions for,
    47  students with dyslexia and other related disorders.
    48    4. Nothing in this act shall require a student with dyslexia to obtain
    49  an individualized education program unless the student has otherwise met
    50  the federal conditions necessary.
    51    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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