"I'm asking for anyone with suggestions of individuals who may be qualified for appointment to the task force to submit those names to me or to the respective appointing authority listed in the legislation," said State Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, author of HB1744. "The work of the task force begins in July so it is important to identify potential task force members quickly so all the positions can be filled in time."
Below is the text of the task force language of HB1744:
A. There is hereby created until May 31, 2012, the Special Education Statewide Cooperative Task Force.
B. The Task Force shall study and develop a plan to provide for the delivery of special education and related services to students with disabilities for whom an individualized education program (IEP) has been developed in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through a statewide special education cooperative which will result in improved outcomes. The Task Force shall study, review and make recommendations on the following:
1. The appropriate governance and organizational structure for a statewide special education cooperative;C. The Task Force shall consist of sixteen (16) members as follows:
2. What resources are needed and available to support a statewide special education cooperative;
3. Which students should participate in the statewide special education cooperative;
4. How special education services can be improved through improved economies of scale;
5. How students will be enrolled in or provided services through the statewide special education cooperative;
6. How the services of teachers and other related personnel will be provided by the statewide special education cooperative;
7. How equipment and other resources that support and benefit students with an IEP will be provided by the statewide special education cooperative;
8. How partnerships with school districts, technology center school districts, higher education institutions, and any other public or private entities will benefit students with an IEP;
9. The relevant federal IDEA compliance issues;
10. How assessments for placing students on an IEP can be improved; and
11. Any other relevant issues.
1. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee;D. The member of the House of Representatives and the member of the Senate shall serve as cochairs of the Task Force. Appointments to the Task Force shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. Meetings of the Task Force shall be held at the call of either cochair of the Task Force. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the Task Force. A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled by the original appointing authority. Staff support for the Task Force shall be provided by the staff of the House of Representatives, Senate and State Department of Education. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Office of Disability Concerns, State Department of Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Department of Human Services, and the State Use Committee for the Department of Central Services shall provide support and information as requested by the Task Force.
2. The Secretary of Education or designee;
3. An executive director of a special education cooperative, appointed by the Governor;
4. A special education director of a special education cooperative, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
5. A service provider of special-education-related services, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
6. A special education teacher, appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction;
7. A parent representing the federally funded parent training and information center for Oklahoma known as the Oklahoma Parent Center, appointed by the Governor;
8. A parent representing a private association which advocates for individual with disabilities, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
9. A person representing a sheltered workshop, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
10. A private employer who employees individuals with disabilities, appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction;
11. A disability coordinator for a higher education institution, appointed by the Governor;
12. A representative of a technology center school district, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
13. A representative of the federally funded protection and advocacy system for Oklahoma known as the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
14. A self advocate, appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction;
15. A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
16. A member of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
E. Members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for serving on the Task Force, but may receive travel reimbursement, contingent on the availability of public or private funds for this purpose.
F. The Task Force may seek the assistance of the Legislative Service Bureau or the State Board of Education to contract with an independent consultant as necessary to fulfill the duties specified in this section contingent on the availability of funds.
G. The Task Force shall submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2011, and a final report by May 31, 2012, to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
