S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 8196--A

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 6, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. BENEDETTO, N. RIVERA -- read once and referred to
  the  Committee  on Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Educa-
  tion  in  accordance  with  Assembly  Rule  3,  sec.  2  --  committee
  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
  to said committee

AN  ACT in relation to establishing the task force to explore the incor-
  poration of the principles of universal design for learning  into  the
  education  systems  in the state; and providing for the repeal of such
  provision upon expiration thereof

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. There is hereby created a task force to explore the incor-
poration of the principles of universal design  for  learning  into  the
education systems in New York.
  S  2.  (a)  The  membership of the task force shall be as follows: one
member of the senate,  appointed  by  the  temporary  president  of  the
senate;  one  member  of  the  assembly, appointed by the speaker of the
assembly; the commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee;
the chancellor of the  state  university  system,  or  the  chancellor's
designee; the superintendent of the New York state school for the blind,
or  the  superintendent's  designee;  the superintendent of the New York
state school for the  deaf,  or  the  superintendent's  designee;  three
representatives  of the department of education from different divisions
or bureaus, each appointed by the assistant or associate commissioner of
the represented division or bureau, of whom:  one  representative  shall
have  expertise  in  special  education,  one  representative shall have
expertise in instruction; and one representative shall have expertise in
assessments and accountability; one  board  of  cooperative  educational
services  superintendent;  five  public school teachers who teach in the
state of whom: three teachers shall be general educators, one each  from
an  elementary, a middle, and a high school, one teacher shall be certi-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11847-03-2
              

A. 8196--A                          2

fied in special  education,  and  one  teacher  shall  be  certified  in
instruction  to students with limited English proficiency; one member of
the state university of New York administration, appointed by the  chan-
cellor of the state university; and five members appointed by the gover-
nor,  at  least one of whom has expertise in universal design for learn-
ing.
  (b) The governor shall designate the chair of the task force.
  (c) Members of the task force shall not receive any  compensation  but
shall be reimbursed for their actual, necessary expenditures.
  (d)  Members  of  the  task  force  shall serve at the pleasure of the
person who appointed them and may be removed at anytime, without  cause.
Any  vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment.
  (e) The department of education  shall  provide  staff  for  the  task
force.
  S 3. All departments or agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof,
and  local  governments  shall, at the request of the chair, provide the
task force such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable the task
force to carry out its powers and duties.
  S 4. The task force may meet and hold public and/or  private  hearings
within  the  regions  of  the state, and shall have all the powers of an
executive body pursuant to the executive law.
  S 5. The task force shall:
  (a) study the effectiveness of universal design for learning to:
  (i) provide flexibility in the ways information is presented, students
respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills and  students  are  engaged;
and
  (ii)  reduce  barriers in instruction and provide appropriate accommo-
dations, supports, and challenges  while  maintaining  high  achievement
expectations  for all students, including students with disabilities and
students with limited English proficiency;
  (b) study the feasibility of:
  (i) incorporating and applying the principles of universal design  for
learning  into  the  elementary, secondary, and postsecondary and higher
education systems in the state with respect to  curriculum  development;
the  evaluation,  selection,  and design of textbooks and other instruc-
tional materials; the purchase and use of technology  for  instructional
purposes;  teacher preparation and staff development; the development of
classroom, district, and statewide assessments; and state grants; and
  (ii) evaluating the effect of universal design for learning on student
outcomes;
  (c) make recommendations relating to how school districts  and  boards
of  cooperative  educational services may incorporate the best practices
and principles of universal design for learning through the  development
of local school system policies and procedures, including but not limit-
ed to local educational goals, teaching methods, instructional materials
and assessments.
  S  6. The task force shall make a report of its findings to the gover-
nor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assem-
bly, and the chairs of the  assembly  and  senate  education  committees
within  six  months  of the date of the task force's first meeting. Such
report shall include any recommendations for further action as the  task
force deems necessary.
  S 7. This act shall take effect September 1, 2012 and shall expire and
be deemed repealed one year after such date.