2013 Vermont Statutes
Title 16 Education
Chapter 101 SPECIAL EDUCATION
§ 2945 Advisory council on special education

2945. Advisory council on special education

(a) There is created an advisory council on special education that shall consist of 19 members. All members of the council shall serve for a term of three years or until their successors are appointed. Terms shall begin on April 1 of the year of appointment. A majority of the members shall be either individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities.

(1) Seventeen of the members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice of the commissioner of education. Among the gubernatorial appointees shall be:

(A) teachers;

(B) representatives of state agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities;

(C) a representative of independent schools;

(D) at least one representative of a vocational, community, or business organization concerned with the provision of transition services to children with disabilities;

(E) a representative from the state juvenile and adult corrections agency;

(F) individuals with disabilities;

(G) parents of children with disabilities, provided the child shall be younger than 26 years old at the time his or her parent is appointed to the council;

(H) state and local education officials, including officials who carry out activities under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;

(I) a representative of higher education who prepares special education and related services personnel;

(J) a representative from the state child welfare department responsible for foster care;

(K) special education administrators; and

(L) two at-large members.

(2) In addition, two members of the general assembly shall be appointed, one from the house of representatives and one from the senate. The speaker shall appoint the house member and the committee on committees shall appoint the senate member.

(b) The council shall elect its own chair from among its membership. The council shall meet annually at the call of the chair, and other meetings may be called by the chair at such times and places as he or she may determine to be necessary.

(c) The members of the council who are employees of the state shall receive no additional compensation for their services, but actual and necessary expenses shall be allowed state employees, and shall be charged to their departments or institutions. The members of the council who are not employees of the state shall receive a per diem compensation of $30.00 per day for each day of official business and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses at the rate allowed state employees.

(d) The advisory council shall:

(1) assume all responsibilities required of the state advisory panel by federal law;

(2) review periodically the regulations, standards, and guidelines pertaining to special education and recommend to the state board of education any changes which it finds necessary;

(3) comment on any new or revised regulations, standards and guidelines proposed for issuance; and

(4) advise the state board of education in the development of any state plan for provision of special education. (Amended 1961, No. 36, eff. March 24, 1961; 1967, No. 73, 2; 1971, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), 3; 1977, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), 1, eff. March 31, 1978; 1995, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), 10, 22; 2003, No. 36, 16; 2011, No. 58, 4, eff. May 31, 2011; 2011, No. 129 (Adj. Sess.), 14, eff. May 11, 2012.)