SB255 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	255
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Children with Down syndrome generally develop at a slower rate and have different patterns of development than typically developing children. This delay in development means that children with Down syndrome will not learn to sit, stand, walk, or talk as early as other children. It also means that children with Down syndrome may need more repetition and more consistency than typically developing children when learning new skills.

The goal of intervention programs for children with Down syndrome is to maximize each child's developmental potential and improve long-term functional outcomes for the children and their families. It is recommended that a "total communication" approach (sign language, oral communication, and visual cues) be used to help children with Down syndrome develop expressive language. Early intervention services provide developmentally appropriate activities to maximize a child's cognitive, communication, motor, self-help, and social-emotional growth until the child is ready for kindergarten.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 gives the State discretion to extend early intervention services to children with disabilities who are eligible for services under title 20 United States Code section 1419 and who previously received services under title 20 United States Code sections 1431-1444, until the children enter, or are eligible under state law to enter, kindergarten or elementary school, as appropriate. The continuation of early intervention services for eligible children with Down syndrome until they are eligible to enter kindergarten will provide continuity of services until the child is ready to transition to a special education program.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of education shall design and implement an early intervention services pilot program for eligible children with Down syndrome. In designing and implementing the early intervention services pilot program, the department of education shall:

(1) Research best practices for maximizing each child's developmental potential and improving long-term functional outcomes for the children and their families;

(2) Provide early intervention services, as that term is defined under section 321-351, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to children diagnosed with Down syndrome who are eligible for services under title 20 United States Code section 1419, and who previously received services under title 20 United States Code sections 1431-1444;

(3) Utilize a "total communication" approach (sign language, oral communication, and visual cues) to help children with Down syndrome develop expressive language;

(4) Provide developmentally appropriate activities to maximize a child's cognitive, communication, motor, self-help, and social-emotional growth until the child is ready for kindergarten; and

(5) Consult with the department of health, as necessary.

(b) The department of education shall submit an interim report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session, and shall submit a final report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2012 regular session.

(c) The department of health shall assist the department of education, as necessary, including in the provision of sign language, oral communication, and visual cues to help children with Down syndrome develop expressive language.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to the department of education to design and implement an early intervention services pilot program for eligible children with Down syndrome pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of section 2 of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2012.