Bill > H4695

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 are: 1. Allowing these students to participate in undergraduate academic courses, internships, work-based trainings, and extracurricular activities at public institutions of higher education, even if they do not meet the regular admission requirements like standardized test scores, high school diploma, or minimum GPA. 2. Requiring public institutions of higher education to establish guidelines for selecting and supporting these students, including providing individual supports and services that are funded by the Commonwealth. 3. Designating the costs of these supports and services as approved special education expenses or eligible for vocational rehabilitation or other public funding sources. 4. Establishing a grant program to enable school committees to partner with public institutions of higher education to facilitate 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 to include individuals with severe disabilities over the age of 21. The overall goal of the bill is to ensure that individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities have meaningful and inclusive higher education experiences to prepare them for adult life, including employment and civic engagement.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Higher Education (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4695