Bill > S2815

This bill aims to create higher education opportunities for students with severe intellectual disabilities, severe autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Allowing these students to participate in undergraduate academic courses, internships, work-based trainings, and extracurricular activities at public institutions of higher education, without requiring them to meet standardized test scores, high school diploma, or minimum grade point average requirements. 2. Requiring public institutions of higher education to develop guidelines for selecting, funding, and coordinating these students' participation, while ensuring they are not denied opportunities solely due to their disabilities. 3. Providing funding for individual supports and services to enable these students' inclusion in academic and non-academic aspects of campus life, with costs being covered by special education, vocational rehabilitation, and other public or private sources. 4. Establishing a grant program to enable school committees to partner with public institutions of higher education to assist in the transition of these students from school to post-school activities and competitive employment. 5. Convening a task force to evaluate and develop mechanisms to support institutions of higher education in offering opportunities for individuals with severe disabilities over the age of 21. The bill aims to improve access and inclusion for students with severe intellectual, autism, and other developmental disabilities in higher education, with the goal of preparing them for adult life, including employment and civic engagement.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Higher Education (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S2815