HB 2002--
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HOUSE BILL No. 2002
By Special Committee on School Finance
12-17
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AN ACT concerning special education services for uniquely different exceptional children; relating to deter- mination of grants of state moneys for provision by school districts; amending K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 72-983 and repealing the existing section. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas: Section 1. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 72-983 is hereby amended to read as follows: 72-983. (a) In each school year, commencing with the 1994-95 school year, to the extent that appropriations are available, each school district which has provided special education services for an exceptional child who uniquely or so severely differs from other exceptional children in physical, mental, social, emotional or educational characteristics that the costs attributable to the provision of special education services for the child are in excess of $25,000 $20,000 for the school year is eligible to receive a grant of state moneys in an amount equal to 75% of that portion of the costs, incurred by the district in the provision of special education services for the child, that is in excess of $25,000 $20,000. (b) In order to be eligible for a grant of state moneys provided for by subsection (a), a school district shall submit to the state board of education an application for a grant and a description of the special education services provided and the child or children for whom provided. The application and description shall be pre- pared in such form and manner as the state board shall require and shall be submitted at a time to be determined and specified by the state board. Approval by the state board of applications for grants of state moneys is prerequisite to the award of grants. (c) Each school district which is awarded a grant under this section shall make such periodic and special reports of statistical and financial information to the state board as it may request. (d) All moneys received by a school district under authority of this section shall be deposited in the special education fund of the school district. Amounts received under this section and deposited in the special education fund shall be used exclusively to reimburse the school district, in part, for the excessive amount expended in providing special education services for uniquely or severely different exceptional children. (e) The state board of education shall: (1) Prescribe and adopt criteria for identification of uniquely or severely different exceptional children and for determination of excessive costs attributable to the provision of special education services for such children; (2) approve applications of school districts for grants; (3) determine the amount of grants and be responsible for payment of such grants to school districts; and (4) prescribe all forms necessary for reporting under this section. (f) If the amount of appropriations for the payment of grants under this section is insufficient to pay in full the amount each school district is determined to be eligible to receive for the school year, the state board shall prorate the amount appropriated among all school districts which are eligible to receive grants of state moneys in proportion to the amount each school district is determined to be eligible to receive. Sec. 2. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 72-983 is hereby repealed. Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.