Bill > H4286

This bill aims to create higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities. The key provisions include: 1. Expanding the mission of public institutions of higher education to provide inclusive educational opportunities for individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities. 2. Allowing such individuals to enroll in academic courses, participate in internships, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of campus life without requiring them to meet standard college admission criteria like standardized test scores, high school diplomas, or minimum grade point averages. 3. Establishing an Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative grant program to enable school districts to partner with public colleges and universities to support the transitional needs of eligible students, including facilitating their movement from school to post-school activities and competitive employment. 4. Requiring the development of inter-agency agreements and policies to maximize federal financial participation through Medicaid and federal financial aid to support the inclusion of these students in higher education. 5. Directing the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to issue guidelines for the implementation of the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4286