SENATE BILL NO. 312 "An Act relating to school construction grants; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MACKIE spoke in support of CSSB 312 (HES) am. He noted that under current law the Department of Education must accept or reject the total school 1 construction project. A project can only be rejected if found to not be "in the best interests of the state." He observed that CSSB 312 (HES) am would allow the Department of Education to modify or revise the scope of submitted projects to assure that schools are adequately sized for the community to be served. In addition, CSSB 312 (HES) am would allow the Department of Education to require that school construction projects be phased in. Representative Mackie noted that the bill was amended in the Senate. The first amendment allows a school term to begin and end on dates fixed by the governing body of a school district, as long as the term is equivalent to not less than 180 days. The second amendment would create four pilot projects for special education services. He asserted that the legislation will allow more, smaller and efficient schools to be built. Representative Brown provided members with AMENDMENT 1 (copy on file). She explained that the amendment would expand pilot projects to allow inclusion of intensive students. The amendment would increase the number of pilot programs from four to six. DUANE GUILEY, FINANCE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION expressed concern with the inclusion of intensive students. He noted that intensive students already have an individualized education program. He noted that the purpose of the pilot is to reduce the number of students identified as special education students in order to prevent labels being attached to students. He emphasized that early intervention can prevent students from receiving the label of a resource room student. He stressed that the addition of "intensive" students would make it more difficult to evaluate application and to provide measurable gains. He noted that the department supports the expansion to eight pilot programs. He added that if the amendment is adopted the department would write strict guidelines determining when intensive students would be included. Representative Brown MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 1. Co-Chair MacLean MOVED to DIVIDE the question. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The amendment was divided into two parts. Amendment 1A would delete "four" and insert "eight" on page 3, line 31. Amendment 1B would insert "or intensive" on page 3, line 17. Co-Chair MacLean MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 1A. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Brown MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 1B. She emphasized that the bill states that "the project is 2 designed to demonstrate appropriate alternative methods to meet the educational needs of (A) students who would otherwise receive resource and self-contained services and generate funding at those levels." She stressed that the issue is how funding is distributed under the foundation formula. The amendment would allow funding to follow a severely disabled child if they participate in the pilot project. Representative Grussendorf spoke in support of "mainstreaming" intensive students. Representative Brown observed that the amendment would allow students that must have an aide with them at all times to spend 1 or 2 hours in classes with other levels of students. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt AMENDMENT 1B. IN FAVOR: Parnell, Brown, Foster, Hanley, Martin, Larson OPPOSED: Therriault, Grussendorf, Navarre, MacLean Representative Hoffman was absent from the vote. The MOTION PASSED (6-4). In response to a question by Representative Hanley, Mr. Guiley discussed sections 2 and 3. He noted that section 2 will sunset after June 1, 1994. Section 3 will extend the sunset date on the provision to allow school districts to adopt a school term of less than 180 days if the commissioner approves the use of up to 10 in-service days or a plan to provide the educational equivalent of a 180 day term. Members discussed the provisions of section 3. Representative Navarre noted that the provision in current law was adopted to allow rural villages to pursue cultural and religious activities. Co-Chair MacLean MOVED to report HCS CSSB 312 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCS CSSB 312 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with individual recommendation and with two zero fiscal notes by the Department of Education.