CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572

                            CHAMBER ACTION
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11  Senator Pruitt moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 4, between lines 29 and 30,

15

16  insert:

17         Section 2.  Learning Gateway.--

18         (1)  PROGRAM  GOALS.--The Legislature authorizes a

19  3-year demonstration program, to be called the Learning

20  Gateway, the purpose of which is to provide parents access to

21  information, referral, and services to lessen the effects of

22  learning disabilities in children from birth to age 9.

23  Parental consent shall be required for initial contact and

24  referral for evaluation and services provided through the

25  Learning Gateway. Each pilot program must design and test an

26  integrated, community-based system to help parents identify

27  learning problems and access early-education and intervention

28  services in order to minimize or prevent learning

29  disabilities. The Learning Gateway must be available to

30  parents in the settings where they and their children live,

31  work, seek care, or study. The goals of the Learning Gateway

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  are to:

  2         (a)  Improve community awareness and education of

  3  parents and practitioners about the warning signs or

  4  precursors of learning problems and learning disabilities,

  5  including disorders or delayed development in language,

  6  attention, behavior, and social-emotional functioning,

  7  including dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity

  8  disorder, in children from birth through age 9.

  9         (b)  Improve access for children who are experiencing

10  early learning problems and their families to appropriate

11  programs, services, and supports through improved outreach and

12  referral processes among providers.

13         (c)  Improve developmental monitoring and the

14  availability to parents of appropriate screening resources,

15  with emphasis on children from birth through age 9 who are at

16  high risk of having learning problems.

17         (d)  Improve the availability to parents of appropriate

18  education and intervention programs, services, and supports to

19  address learning problems and learning disabilities.

20         (e)  Identify gaps in the array of services and

21  supports so that an appropriate child-centered and

22  family-centered continuum of education and support would be

23  readily available in each community.

24         (f)  Improve accountability of the system through

25  improved planning, integration, and collaboration among

26  providers and through outcome measurement in collaboration

27  with parents.

28         (2)  LEARNING GATEWAY STEERING COMMITTEE.--

29         (a)  To ensure that parents of children with potential

30  learning problems and learning disabilities have access to the

31  appropriate necessary services and supports, an 18-member

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  steering committee is created. The steering committee is

  2  assigned to the Department of Education for administrative

  3  purposes.

  4         (b)  The duties of the Learning Gateway Steering

  5  Committee are to provide policy development, consultation,

  6  oversight, and support for the implementation of three

  7  demonstration programs and to advise the agencies, the

  8  Legislature, and the Governor on statewide implementation of

  9  system components and issues and on strategies for continuing

10  improvement to the system.

11         (c)  The steering committee shall direct the

12  administering agency of the Learning Gateway program to expend

13  the funds appropriated for the steering committee's use to

14  procure the products delineated in section 3 of this act

15  through contracts or other means. The steering committee and

16  the Learning Gateway pilot programs will provide information

17  and referral for services but will not provide direct services

18  to parents or children.

19         (d)  The steering committee must include parents,

20  service providers, and representatives of the disciplines

21  relevant to diagnosis of and intervention in early learning

22  problems. The Governor shall appoint one member from the

23  private sector who has expertise in communications, management

24  or service provision, one member who has expertise in

25  children's vision, one member who has expertise in learning

26  disabilities, one member who has expertise in audiology, one

27  member who is a parent of a child eligible for services by the

28  Learning Gateway, and one provider of related diagnostic and

29  intervention services. The President of the Senate shall

30  appoint one member from the private sector who has expertise

31  in communications, management or service provision, one member

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  who has expertise in emergent literacy, one member who has

  2  expertise in pediatrics, one member who has expertise in brain

  3  development, one member who is a parent of a child eligible

  4  for services by the Learning Gateway, and one member who is a

  5  provider of related diagnostic and intervention services. The

  6  Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one

  7  member from the private sector who has expertise in

  8  communications, management or service provision, one member

  9  who has expertise in environmental health and allergies, one

10  member who has expertise in children's nutrition, one member

11  who has expertise in family medicine, one parent of a child

12  eligible for services by the Learning Gateway, and one member

13  who is a school psychologist providing diagnostic and

14  intervention services.

15         (e)  To support and facilitate system improvements, the

16  steering committee must consult with representatives from the

17  Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Florida

18  Partnership for School Readiness, the Department of Children

19  and Family Services, the Agency for Health Care

20  Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the

21  Department of Corrections and the director of the Learning

22  Development and Evaluation Center of Florida Agricultural and

23  Mechanical University.

24         (f)  Steering committee appointments must be made, and

25  the committee must hold its first meeting, within 90 days

26  after this act takes effect. Steering committee members shall

27  be appointed to serve a term of 3 years. The Governor shall

28  designate the chairman of the steering committee.

29         (g)  Steering committee members shall not receive

30  compensation for their services, but may receive reimbursement

31  for travel expenses incurred under section 112.061, Florida

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  Statutes.

  2         (3)  LEARNING GATEWAY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.--

  3         (a)  Within 90 days after its initial meeting, the

  4  Learning Gateway Steering Committee shall accept proposals

  5  from interagency consortia in Orange, Manatee, and St. Lucie

  6  counties which comprise public and private providers,

  7  community agencies, business representatives, and the local

  8  school board in each county to serve as demonstration sites

  9  for design and development of a system that addresses the

10  requirements in section 3 of this act. If there is no proposal

11  from one of the designated counties, the steering committee

12  may select another county to serve as a demonstration site by

13  majority vote.

14         (b)  The proposals for demonstration projects must

15  provide a comprehensive and detailed description of the system

16  of care. The description of the proposed system of care must

17  clearly indicate the point of access for parents, integration

18  of services, linkages of providers, and additional array of

19  services required to address the needs of children and

20  families.

21         (c)  The demonstration projects should ensure that the

22  system of care appropriately includes existing services to the

23  fullest extent possible and should determine additional

24  programs, services, and supports that would be necessary to

25  implement the requirements of this act.

26         (d)  The projects, in conjunction with the steering

27  committee, shall determine what portion of the system can be

28  funded using existing funds, demonstration funds provided by

29  this act, and other available private and community funds.

30         (e)  The demonstration projects shall recommend to the

31  steering committee the linking or combining of some or all of

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  the local planning bodies, including school readiness

  2  coalitions, Healthy Start coalitions, Part C advisory

  3  councils, Department of Children and Family Services community

  4  alliances, and other boards or councils that have a primary

  5  focus on services for children from birth to age 9, to the

  6  extent allowed by federal regulations, if such changes would

  7  improve coordination and reduce unnecessary duplication of

  8  effort.

  9         (f)  Demonstration projects shall use public and

10  private partnerships, partnerships with faith-based

11  organizations, and volunteers, as appropriate, to enhance

12  accomplishment of the goals of the system.

13         (g)  Addressing system components delineated in section

14  3 of this act, each demonstration project proposal must

15  include, at a minimum:

16         1.  Protocols for requiring and receiving parental

17  consent for Learning Gateway services.

18         2.  A method for establishing communication with

19  parents and coordination and planning processes within the

20  community.

21         3.  Action steps for making appropriate linkages to

22  existing services within the community.

23         4.  Procedures to determine gaps in services and

24  identify appropriate providers.

25         5.  A lead agency to serve as the system access point,

26  or gateway.

27         (h)  As authorized under the budget authority of the

28  Department of Education, demonstration projects,

29  representative of the diversity of the communities in this

30  state, shall be established in Manatee, Orange, and St. Lucie

31  counties as local Learning Gateway sites and shall be

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  authorized to hire staff, establish office space, and contract

  2  for administrative services as needed to implement the project

  3  within the budget designated by the Legislature.

  4         (i)  The steering committee must approve, deny, or

  5  conditionally approve a Learning Gateway proposal within 60

  6  days after receipt of the proposal. If a proposal is

  7  conditionally approved, the steering committee must assist the

  8  Learning Gateway applicant to correct deficiencies in the

  9  proposal by December 1, 2002. Funds must be available to a

10  pilot program 15 days after final approval of its proposal by

11  the steering committee. Funds must be available to all pilot

12  programs by January 1, 2003.

13         Section 3.  Components of the Learning Gateway.--

14         (1)  The Learning Gateway system consists of the

15  following components:

16         (a)  Community education strategies and family-oriented

17  access.--

18         1.  Each local demonstration project shall establish

19  the system access point, or gateway, by which parents can

20  receive information about available appropriate services.  An

21  existing public or private agency or provider or new provider

22  may serve as the system gateway. The local Learning Gateway

23  should provide parents and caretakers with a single point of

24  access for screening, assessment, and referral for services

25  for children from birth through age 9. The demonstration

26  projects have the budgetary authority to hire appropriate

27  personnel to perform administrative functions. These staff

28  members must be knowledgeable about child development, early

29  identification of learning problems and learning disabilities,

30  family service planning, and services in the local area. Each

31  demonstration project must arrange for the following services

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  to be provided by existing service systems:

  2         a.  Conducting intake with families.

  3         b.  Conducting appropriate screening or referral for

  4  such services.

  5         c.  Conducting needs/strengths-based family assessment.

  6         d.  Developing family resource plans.

  7         e.  Making referrals for needed services and assisting

  8  families in the application process.

  9         f.  Providing service coordination as needed by

10  families.

11         g.  Assisting families in establishing a medical home.

12         h.  Conducting case management and transition planning

13  as necessary.

14         i.  Monitoring performance of service providers against

15  appropriate standards.

16         2.  The Learning Gateway Steering Committee and

17  demonstration projects shall designate a central information

18  and referral access phone number for parents in each pilot

19  community. This centralized phone number should be used to

20  increase public awareness and to improve access to local

21  supports and services for children from birth through age 9

22  and their families. The number should be highly publicized as

23  the primary source of information on services for young

24  children. The telephone staff should be trained and supported

25  to offer accurate and complete information and to make

26  appropriate referrals to existing public and private community

27  agencies.

28         3.  In collaboration with local resources such as

29  Healthy Start, the demonstration projects shall develop

30  strategies for offering hospital visits or home visits by

31  trained staff to new mothers. The Learning Gateway Steering

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  Committee shall provide technical assistance to local

  2  demonstration projects in developing brochures and other

  3  materials to be distributed to parents of newborns.

  4         4.  In collaboration with other local resources, the

  5  demonstration projects shall develop public awareness

  6  strategies to disseminate information about developmental

  7  milestones, precursors of learning problems and other

  8  developmental delays, and the service system that is

  9  available. The information should target parents of children

10  from birth through age 9 and should be distributed to parents,

11  health care providers, and caregivers of children from birth

12  through age 9. A variety of media should be used as

13  appropriate, such as print, television, radio, and a

14  community-based internet web site, as well as opportunities

15  such as those presented by parent visits to physicians for

16  well-child check-ups. The Learning Gateway Steering Committee

17  shall provide technical assistance to the local demonstration

18  projects in developing and distributing educational materials

19  and information.

20         a.  Public awareness strategies targeting parents of

21  children from birth through age 5 shall be designed to provide

22  information to public and private preschool programs,

23  childcare providers, pediatricians, parents, and local

24  businesses and organizations. These strategies should include

25  information on the school readiness performance standards for

26  kindergarten adopted by the School Readiness Partnership

27  Board.

28         b.  Public awareness strategies targeting parents of

29  children from ages 6 through 9 must be designed to disseminate

30  training materials and brochures to parents and public and

31  private school personnel, and must be coordinated with the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  local school board and the appropriate school advisory

  2  committees in the demonstration projects. The materials should

  3  contain information on state and district proficiency levels

  4  for grades K-3.

  5         (b)  Screening and developmental monitoring.--

  6         1.  In coordination with the Partnership for School

  7  Readiness, the Department of Education, and the Florida

  8  Pediatric Society, and using information learned from the

  9  local demonstration projects, the Learning Gateway Steering

10  Committee shall establish guidelines for screening children

11  from birth through age 9. The guidelines should incorporate

12  recent research on the indicators most likely to predict early

13  learning problems, mild developmental delays, child-specific

14  precursors of school failure, and other related developmental

15  indicators in the domains of cognition; communication;

16  attention; perception; behavior; and social, emotional,

17  sensory, and motor functioning.

18         2.  Based on the guidelines established by the steering

19  committee and in cooperation with the Florida Pediatric

20  Society, the steering committee shall adopt a comprehensive

21  checklist for child healthcare checkups and a corresponding

22  training package for physicians and other medical personnel in

23  implementing more effective screening for precursors of

24  learning problems, learning disabilities, and mild

25  developmental delays.

26         3.  Using the screening guidelines developed by the

27  steering committee, local demonstration projects should engage

28  local physicians and other medical professionals in enhancing

29  the screening opportunities presented by immunization visits

30  and other well-child appointments, in accordance with the

31  American Academy of Pediatrics Periodicity Schedule.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1         4.  Using the screening guidelines developed by the

  2  steering committee, the demonstration projects shall develop

  3  strategies to increase early identification of precursors to

  4  learning problems and learning disabilities through providing

  5  parents the option of improved screening and referral

  6  practices within public and private early care and education

  7  programs and K-3 public and private school settings.

  8  Strategies may include training and technical assistance teams

  9  to assist program providers and teachers. The program shall

10  collaborate appropriately with the school readiness

11  coalitions, local school boards, and other community resources

12  in arranging training and technical assistance for early

13  identification and screening with parental consent.

14         5.  The demonstration project shall work with

15  appropriate local entities to reduce the duplication of

16  cross-agency screening in each demonstration project area.

17  Demonstration projects shall provide opportunities for public

18  and private providers of screening and assessment at each age

19  level to meet periodically to identify gaps or duplication of

20  efforts in screening practices.

21         6.  Based on technical assistance and support provided

22  by the steering committee and in conjunction with the school

23  readiness coalitions and other appropriate entities,

24  demonstration projects shall develop a system to log the

25  number of children screened, assessed, and referred for

26  services. After development and testing, tracking should be

27  supported by a standard electronic data system for screening

28  and assessment information.

29         7.  In conjunction with the technical assistance of the

30  steering committee, demonstration projects shall develop a

31  system for targeted screening. The projects should conduct a

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  needs assessment of existing services and programs where

  2  targeted screening programs should be offered. Based on the

  3  results of the needs assessment, the project shall develop

  4  procedures within the demonstration community whereby periodic

  5  developmental screening could be offered to parents of

  6  children from birth through age 9 who are served by state

  7  intervention programs or whose parents or caregivers are in

  8  state intervention programs. Intervention programs for

  9  children, parents, and caregivers include those administered

10  or funded by the:

11         a.  Agency for Health Care Administration;

12         b.  Department of Children and Family Services;

13         c.  Department of Corrections and other criminal

14  justice programs;

15         d.  Department of Education;

16         e.  Department of Health; and

17         f.  Department of Juvenile Justice.

18         8.  When results of screening suggest developmental

19  problems, potential learning problems, or learning

20  disabilities, the intervention program shall inform the

21  child's parent of the results of the screening and shall offer

22  to refer the child to the Learning Gateway for coordination of

23  further assessment. If the parent chooses to have further

24  assessment, the Learning Gateway shall make referrals to the

25  appropriate entities within the service system.

26         9.  The local Learning Gateway shall provide for

27  followup contact to all families whose children have been

28  found ineligible for services under Part B or Part C of the

29  IDEA to inform them of other services available in the county.

30         10.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each

31  agency participating in the Learning Gateway is authorized to

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  provide to a Learning Gateway program confidential information

  2  exempt from disclosure under chapter 119, Florida Statutes,

  3  regarding a developmental screening on any child participating

  4  in the Learning Gateway who is or has been the subject of a

  5  developmental screening within the jurisdiction of each

  6  agency.

  7         (c)  Early education, services and supports.--

  8         1.  The demonstration projects shall develop a

  9  conceptual model system of care that builds upon, integrates,

10  and fills the gaps in existing services. The model shall

11  indicate how qualified providers of family-based or

12  center-based interventions or public and private school

13  personnel may offer services in a manner consistent with the

14  standards established by their profession and by the standards

15  and criteria adopted by the steering committee and consistent

16  with effective and proven strategies. The specific services

17  and supports may include:

18         a.  High-quality early education and care programs.

19         b.  Assistance to parents and other caregivers, such as

20  home-based modeling programs for parents and play programs to

21  provide peer interactions.

22         c.  Speech and language therapy that is

23  age-appropriate.

24         d.  Parent education and training.

25         e.  Comprehensive medical screening and referral with

26  biomedical interventions as necessary.

27         f.  Referral as needed for family therapy, other mental

28  health services, and treatment programs.

29         g.  Family support services as necessary.

30         h.  Therapy for learning differences in reading and

31  math, and attention to subject material for children in grades

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  K-3.

  2         i.  Referral for Part B or Part C services as required.

  3         j.  Expanded access to community-based services for

  4  parents.

  5         k.  Parental choice in the provision of services by

  6  public and private providers.

  7

  8  The model shall include a statement of the cost of

  9  implementing the model.

10         2.  Demonstration projects shall develop strategies to

11  increase the use of appropriate intervention practices with

12  children who have learning problems and learning disabilities

13  within public and private early care and education programs

14  and K-3 public and private school settings. Strategies may

15  include training and technical assistance teams. Intervention

16  must be coordinated and must focus on providing effective

17  supports to children and their families within their regular

18  education and community environment. These strategies must

19  incorporate, as appropriate, school and district activities

20  related to the student's academic improvement plan and must

21  provide parents with greater access to community-based

22  services that should be available beyond the traditional

23  school day. Academic expectations for public school students

24  in grades K-3 must be based upon the local school board's

25  adopted proficiency levels. When appropriate, school personnel

26  shall consult with the local Learning Gateway to identify

27  other community resources for supporting the child and the

28  family.

29         3.  The steering committee, in cooperation with the

30  Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of

31  Education, and the Florida Partnership for School Readiness,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

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  1  shall identify the elements of an effective research-based

  2  curriculum for early care and education programs.

  3         4.  The steering committee, in conjunction with the

  4  demonstration projects, shall develop processes for

  5  identifying and sharing promising practices and shall showcase

  6  these programs and practices at a dissemination conference.

  7         5.  The steering committee shall establish processes

  8  for facilitating state and local providers' ready access to

  9  information and training concerning effective instructional

10  and behavioral practices and interventions based on advances

11  in the field and for encouraging researchers to regularly

12  guide practitioners in designing and implementing

13  research-based practices. The steering committee shall assist

14  the demonstration projects in conducting a conference for

15  participants in the three demonstration projects for the

16  dissemination of information on best practices and new

17  insights about early identification, education, and

18  intervention for children from birth through age 9. The

19  conference should be established so that continuing education

20  credits may be awarded to medical professionals, teachers, and

21  others for whom this is an incentive.

22         6.  Demonstration projects shall investigate and may

23  recommend to the steering committee more effective resource

24  allocation and flexible funding strategies if such strategies

25  are in the best interest of the children and families in the

26  community. The Department of Education and other relevant

27  agencies shall assist the demonstration projects in securing

28  state and federal waivers as appropriate.

29         Section 4.  Accountability.--

30         (1)  The steering committee shall provide information

31  to the School Readiness Estimating Conference and the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  Enrollment Conference for Public Schools regarding estimates

  2  of the population of children from birth through age 9 who are

  3  at risk of learning problems and learning disabilities.

  4         (2)  The steering committee, in conjunction with the

  5  demonstration projects, shall develop accountability

  6  mechanisms to ensure that the demonstration programs are

  7  effective and that resources are used as efficiently as

  8  possible. Accountability should be addressed through a

  9  multilevel evaluation system, including measurement of

10  outcomes and operational indicators. Measurable outcomes must

11  be developed to address improved child development, improved

12  child health, and success in school. Indicators of system

13  improvements must be developed to address quality of programs

14  and integration of services. Agency monitoring of programs

15  shall include a review of child and family outcomes and system

16  effectiveness indicators with a specific focus on elimination

17  of unnecessary duplication of planning, screening, and

18  services.

19         (3)  The steering committee shall oversee a formative

20  evaluation of the project during implementation, including

21  reporting short-term outcomes and system improvements. By

22  January 2005, the steering committee shall make

23  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

24  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the

25  Commissioner of Education related to the merits of expansion

26  of the demonstration projects.

27         (4)  By January 1, 2005, the steering committee, in

28  conjunction with the demonstration projects, shall develop a

29  model county-level strategic plan to formalize the goals,

30  objectives, strategies, and intended outcomes of the

31  comprehensive system, and to support the integration and

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    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  efficient delivery of all services and supports for parents of

  2  children from birth through age 9 who have learning problems

  3  or learning disabilities. The model county-level strategic

  4  plan must include, but need not be limited to, strategies to:

  5         (a)  Establish a system whereby parents can access

  6  information about learning problems in young children and

  7  receive services at their discretion;

  8         (b)  Improve early identification of those who are at

  9  risk for learning problems and learning disabilities;

10         (c)  Provide access to an appropriate array of services

11  within the child's natural environment or regular classroom

12  setting or specialized training in other settings;

13         (d)  Improve and coordinate screening for children from

14  birth through age 9;

15         (e)  Improve and coordinate services for children from

16  birth through age 9;

17         (f)  Address training of professionals in effectively

18  identifying factors, across all domains, which place children

19  from birth through age 9 at risk of school failure and in

20  appropriate interventions for the learning differences;

21         (g)  Provide appropriate support to families;

22         (h)  Share best practices with caregivers and referral

23  sources;

24         (i)  Address resource needs of the assessment and

25  intervention system; and

26         (j)  Address development of implementation plans to

27  establish protocols for requiring and receiving parental

28  consent for services; to identify action steps, responsible

29  parties, and implementation schedules; and to ensure

30  appropriate alignment with agency strategic plans.

31         Section 5.  The Legislature shall appropriate a sum of

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 1540

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 725572





  1  money to fund the demonstration programs and shall authorize

  2  selected communities to blend funding from existing programs

  3  to the extent that this is advantageous to the community and

  4  is consistent with federal requirements.

  5

  6  (Redesignate subsequent sections.)

  7

  8

  9  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

10  And the title is amended as follows:

11         On page 1, line 18, after the semicolon,

12

13  insert:

14         authorizing a demonstration program to be

15         called Learning Gateway; creating a steering

16         committee; providing for membership and

17         appointment of steering committee members;

18         establishing duties of the steering committee;

19         authorizing demonstration projects in specified

20         counties; authorizing designated agencies to

21         provide confidential information to such

22         program; providing for funding;

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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