SB3156

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . statewide transition success network

§302A-A Short title. This part may be cited as the Hawaii Transition Success Network Act.

302A-B Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Preparing students with disabilities for success after high school experiences in postsecondary education, vocational training, and employment in an integrated setting at a competitive wage is an essential element of our state policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

Currently, not all students with disabilities may receive the full range of appropriate services and support in high school to prepare them for a successful transition to after high school opportunities. The Hawaii two-track option for exiting high school can limit the opportunity for high school students to access job-preparation and job-related experiences, especially those with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Some high school students with disabilities, when exiting high school, fail to meet set eligibility criteria, preventing them from accessing publicly-funded services that could contribute to transition success. The lack of adequate resources and coordination among a variety of state agencies and community organizations within some schools may limit the high school student with a disability from a full range of services for a successful transition after high school.

The legislature further finds that the State needs to have high expectations for high school students with disabilities, especially those with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and ensure their access to the general education curriculum in the regular classroom, to the maximum extent possible, in order to meet developmental goals that have been established for all children and be prepared to lead productive and independent adult lives. The State also needs to strengthen the role and responsibility of parents and other family members, by partnering with them in the education of their children at school and at home, through a proactive investment in family engagement by schools and communities, coordinate what is contained in this part with other improvement efforts related to high school students with disabilities, provide appropriate special education and related services and aids and support in the regular classroom, to high school students with disabilities, and offer ethnic and culturally appropriate interventions when assisting high school students with disabilities make a successful transition after high school. To ensure the graduation rates for high school students with disabilities, the State needs to provide effective transition services to promote successful post-school employment or education.

The purpose of this part is to:

(1) Establish a statewide transition success network for high school students with disabilities; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the establishment of the statewide transition success network.

§302A-C Statewide transition success network; established. (a) The department, through the board and its superintendent, shall establish and administer the statewide transition success network.

(b) The superintendent shall:

(1) Disburse funds according to section 302A-D;

(2) By October 1, 2020, appoint a statewide transition coordinator to collect and monitor progress on complex area needs assessments and high school transition plans authorized under this part, address technical assistance requests from complex area transition centers, and manage the state level advisory council;

(3) By January 1, 2021, appoint the statewide advisory council made up of representatives from the complex area transition centers' advisory councils, community organizations, employers, families, and school personnel with interest in, responsibility for, or experience in assisting high school students with disabilities making successful transitions after high school to postsecondary education or employment; and

(4) Beginning in 2021, hold a statewide annual conference on the activities and results accomplished by the statewide transition success network.

(1) Establish a transition center by school year 2020-2021;

(2) By October 1, 2020, appoint a coordinator to assist high schools in the school district implement their transition plans described in subsection (d), oversee the completion of the annual needs assessment described in paragraph (6), and manage the district transition center advisory council;

(3) By January 1, 2021, appoint an advisory council made up of representatives from high school designated liaisons, state agencies, community organizations, employers, families, and school personnel with interest in, responsibility for, or experience in assisting high school students with disabilities making successful transitions after high school to postsecondary education or employment. Within the advisory council, there shall be an interagency coordinating committee to assist high schools in the district implement their school plans described in subsection (d);

(4) Direct the coordinator of the transition center to work with high schools in its district to implement high school transition plans described in subsection (d);

(5) Direct the coordinator to explore the option of working with University of Hawaii center on disability studies to arrange for activities in its complex area to promote the purposes of this part, particularly needs arising from the annual needs assessment and common elements in high school transition plans; and

(6) Each year, beginning in school year 2020-2021, undertake a needs assessment of the transition issues of importance to families and educators by November 1 and share the results with high school principals and advisory councils within two months.

(d) Each high school shall:

(1) By March 31, 2021, submit its plan for participation in the statewide transition success network to its district transition center coordinator for the following school year to be reviewed for consistency with this part;

(2) According to the timing provided for in paragraph (1), develop an annual transition plan for students with disabilities in its school, which reflects benefits and opportunities for students with disabilities in all grades; provided that the plans include:

(A) The number of students with disabilities with individualized education programs, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. section 791) plans, or in the process of determination for eligibility for either;

(B) Data regarding the area complex needs assessment conducted by the complex area technical assistance center;

(D) A description of the extent to which a school receiving an allotment under this part will coordinate and offer access to training, services and support, beyond what is currently available for students with disabilities related to academic material, soft skill preparation needed in higher education, employment, or other community settings, job readiness, job sampling, internships, and apprenticeships, self-determination, skill building in communication and relationship building, independent living, financial literacy, and technology literacy, job related clubs, coaching through simulations and real life experiences, including job fairs and higher education recruitment events at individual schools and district level events, benefits planning, and access to service and support from other state agencies.

Any service or support offered students with disabilities, supported by funds through this part, shall be included in the transition plan in the individualized education programs or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. section 791) plans of these students

(e) The director of the University of Hawaii center on disability studies shall establish the statewide transition success network technical assistance center to assist the State, the education district transition centers, and high schools by providing:

(1) Innovative strategies for exiting high school with qualifications to enter a trade school, higher education, or secure a job;

(2) Assistance with needs assessments described in paragraph (c)(6) or other evaluation-related requests;

(3) Assistance with the development of school transition plans;

(4) Training for families and students on what to do now to be ready for the future;

(5) Training on cross-agency collaboration;

(6) Training on family engagement;

(7) Outreach and engagement with employers to develop job opportunities;

(8) Policy exploration, drafting, and research;

(9) Reports on progress of the statewide transition success network to the general public;

(10) Development and maintenance of a website for statewide transition success network;

(11) Reports to the legislature every year on statewide transition success network progress; and

(12) Assistance with customized requests from complex area transition centers, high schools, and the Hawaii Department of Education.

(f) The department may adopt rules under chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this part.

302A-D Responsibilities related to distribution of funding. (a) The superintendent shall distribute funds to each district to create a statewide transition success network as directed in section 302A-C(b).

(b) Each district who receives funds through this part shall use funds as directed in section 302A-C(c).

(d) To encourage and promote collaboration among high schools and complex areas, education officials may undertake activities that benefit from pooling of funds, including but not limited to partnering activities with middle schools, families, community organizations, and employers.

302A-E Authorization of funding; distribution. (a) The superintendent shall have the responsibility to receive and distribute funds according to this part.

(b) Ten per cent of funding appropriated in any year for the purpose of this part shall be allocated to the University of Hawaii center on disability studies to implement the provisions in section 302A-C(d).

(c) The superintendent may reserve up to five percent of any funds appropriated for purposes of this part to implement the provisions of this part; provided that:

(1) Remaining funds shall be distributed to school districts proportionally, based on the number of students with disabilities attending high school in the previous school year in each high school;

(2) Each high school shall receive an allotment consistent with its school transition plan budget; and

(3) Each school district may use excess funds for district wide technical assistance initiatives recommended by the district advisory council."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to be used solely for purposes consistent with this Act, which may include hiring personnel, pay for consulting services, stipends, travel, convening, and other appropriate implementation and evaluation obligations; provided that the sum shall be allocated as follows:

(1) $250,000 to the department of education to begin start-up activities for participation in the statewide transition success network;

(2) $50,000 to each district for each high school in its jurisdiction to begin start-up activities for participation in the statewide transition success network; and

(3) $250,000 to the University of Hawaii center on disability studies to begin start-up activities for participation in the statewide transition success network.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 302A of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3156
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII