186-C:3-b Advisory Committee; Purpose; Membership; Terms; Duties; Meetings. –
I. In accordance with the provisions of 20 U.S.C. section 1412(a)(21) and 34 C.F.R. sections 300.167-300.169, there is established an advisory committee on the education of children/students with disabilities to advise the commissioner of education on issues relating to special education, and to promote communication and cooperation among individuals involved with students with disabilities. In addition, the committee shall review the federal financial participation and the level of state funding to determine their impact on the programs and delivery of services to children/students with disabilities.
II. The committee shall be composed of individuals involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities. A majority of the committee membership shall be composed of individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities. The committee membership shall be as follows:
(a) Individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities, appointed by the governor.
(b) Two members of the house education committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(c) Two members of the senate education committee, appointed by the president of the senate.
(d) One representative of a vocational, community, or business organization concerned with the provision of transition services to children/students with disabilities, appointed by the governor.
(e) One state education official, appointed by the governor.
(f) One local educational official, who shall be an administrator, appointed by the governor.
(g) Two teachers, one of whom shall be a special education teacher, appointed by the governor.
(h) One representative of the department of health and human services involved in the financing or delivery of special education or related services to children with disabilities, recommended by the commissioner of the department of health and human services, and appointed by the governor.
(i) One representative of the Disabilities Rights Center, recommended by the Disabilities Rights Center and appointed by the governor.
(j) One representative of the Parent Information Center, recommended by the Parent Information Center and appointed by the governor.
(k) Two individuals with disabilities who may have received special education services, one of whom may be a high school student, appointed by the governor.
(l) One administrator of a public special education program, appointed by the governor.
(m) One representative of an institution of higher education that prepares special education and related services personnel, appointed by the governor.
(n) One representative of a private school approved for special education, appointed by the governor.
(o) One representative of a chartered public school, appointed by the governor.
(p) One individual representing children with disabilities who are home-schooled, appointed by the governor.
(q) One representative from the department of corrections, and one representative from a county correctional facility, both of whom are responsible for administering the provision of special education or special education and related services, appointed by the governor.
(r) A state and a local educational official who are responsible for performing activities under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. section 11431, et seq, appointed by the governor.
(s) A representative from the department of health and human services responsible for foster care, recommended by the commissioner of the department of health and human services and appointed by the governor.
III. (a) Committee members shall be appointed to staggered 2-year terms, and members may succeed themselves.
(b) A chairperson shall be selected by a majority of the committee members on an annual basis.
IV. The committee shall:
(a) Advise the department of education regarding unmet needs within the state in the education of children/students with disabilities.
(b) Provide an annual report to the governor and the state legislature on the status of education of students with disabilities in New Hampshire.
(c) Comment publicly on the state plan and rules or regulations proposed for issuance by the state regarding the education of children/students with disabilities.
(d) Assist the state in developing and reporting such information and evaluations as may assist the U.S. Secretary of Education in the performance of responsibilities under 20 U.S.C. section 1418 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(e) Advise the department of education in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports.
(f) Advise the department of education in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children/students with disabilities.
V. The committee shall meet at least quarterly or as often as necessary to conduct its business.
VI. The department of education shall provide administrative support for the committee.