Relates to regional tuition rates for special education itinerant services

1 Co-sponsor

• Phil Boyle

BILL NUMBER:S2149

Title of bill

An act relating to regional tuition rates for special education itinerant services

Purpose

To create a new base for tuition reimbursement purposes for preschool special education providers.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Would require the State Education Department to develop rate setting methodology for classroom based preschool special education providers based on the three most recent years' average, creating a new base for tuition reimbursement.

Section 2: Sets forth an immediate effective date.

Justification

Unlike other education and human service sectors, the preschool special education system has not benefited from any trend factor or growth factor in reimbursement for approximately 5 years. While actual and reasonable costs associated with the provision of services to school district students by these non-public entities have escalated -- increased fixed costs such as heat and electricity and health care, as well as salaries necessary to recruit and retain qualified teachers and clinical professionals -- rates of reimbursement have not been adjusted. To relieve the tension, rates of reimbursement for classroom costs must be "rebased -- allowed to adjust upwards without being tampered down or deflated by cost screens or other reimbursement constraints within the rate methodology.

Legislative history

2014: Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately.