SPONSOR:

Rep. Spence;

 

Reps. Buckworth, Carey, D. Ennis, Ewing, Fallon, Hocker, Lavelle, Houghton

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

142nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

HOUSE BILL NO. 440

 

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE PERTAINING TO EXCEPTIONAL PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR EDUCATION VOUCHERS FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

 

Section 1. Amend Chapter 31 of Title 14 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new Subchapter VI which shall read as follows:

"Subchapter VI. Vouchers.

Section 3125.

(a)     A parent of a person who has been determined to be handicapped may, in lieu of enrolling the person in a free appropriate public education program, apply to the Department of Education for a voucher to assist the person in obtaining an education from another source.

(b)     The amount of the voucher shall be 75% of the amount which is determined to be the cost to the State of enrolling the person in a regularly offered free appropriate public education program pursuant to Section 3121 of this Chapter.  In determining the cost of enrollment for purpose of computing the amount of the voucher, the cost of enrollment in a residential program under Section 3123 of this Chapter or of private placement for a complex or rare disabled person under Section 3124 of this Chapter shall not be considered.

(c)     The Department of Education shall provide by rule for implementing this Section, including identifying a handicapped person under this Chapter, determining the cost of the free appropriate public education and the amount of any voucher, and adopting procedures for applying for and disbursing vouchers.

(d)     The procedural safeguards contained in Subchapter V of this Chapter shall apply to the voucher program.".

SYNOPSIS

This Bill provides that a parent or guardian of a handicapped child, such as an autistic child, may apply to the State for a voucher to help meet the cost of educating the child.  The amount of the voucher would be 75% of the State's cost if the child were enrolled in a free program offered by the State.