S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    133
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CARROLL, COLTON, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, DINOWITZ,
   LUPARDO, WILLIAMS, DICKENS, EPSTEIN, SAYEGH, JONES, RA, TAYLOR,  DAVI-
   LA, McMAHON, REYES, JEAN-PIERRE, FALL, ANDERSON, JACKSON, OTIS, WALSH,
   L. ROSENTHAL  -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, HYNDMAN, SILLIT-
   TI, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force;
   and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
   of
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Dyslexia and dysgraphia task force. 1. The commissioner of
 education shall establish a task force to examine appropriate and effec-
 tive evidence-based dyslexia and dysgraphia screening  methods,  reading
 interventions, and other educational supports for students in kindergar-
 ten  through  grade  five.  The task force shall consist of at least ten
 members, including the commissioner of education or their designee,  who
 shall  serve  as chair of the task force. The remaining members shall be
 appointed by the commissioner of education in such a  manner  to  ensure
 that all regions of the state are represented, and shall include: (a) at
 least  two  members who specialize in identifying, evaluating, and diag-
 nosing individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (b) at least one  member
 who  specializes  in  educating individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia;
 (c) at least one member who is a parent of a student  with  dyslexia  or
 dysgraphia;  (d) at least one member with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (e) at
 least one member from an institute of higher education who is an  expert
 in  dyslexia  or dysgraphia; and (f) at least one member who is a public
 school teacher who specializes in teaching literacy  and  evidence-based
 reading  instruction.  All  members  shall  have  expertise in fields or
 disciplines related to the  identification  of  students  with  learning

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00296-01-3
              

 A. 133                              2
 
 disabilities  including  the  unique  educational needs of students with
 dyslexia or dysgraphia.
   2.  The  task force shall conduct at least two public hearings for the
 purpose of obtaining information from stakeholders and other  interested
 parties  including  but  not  limited  to  speech  pathologists, reading
 specialists, teachers, school administrators, and parents.
   3. The task force shall prepare and submit a report  of  its  findings
 and  recommendations  to the governor, temporary president of the senate
 and speaker of the assembly eighteen months after the effective date  of
 this act.
   4.  For  the  purposes  of  this act, the term "screening methods" may
 include examining the  use  and  frequency  of  dyslexia  or  dysgraphia
 screeners that are valid, reliable, low cost, and developmentally appro-
 priate that measure deficits in areas including: (a) phonological aware-
 ness;  (b)  phonological  or  language-based memory; (c) rapid automatic
 naming; (d) receptive vocabulary; (e) phonics skills; (f)  decoding  and
 encoding  real and pseudo-words; (g) oral reading fluency; and (h) writ-
 ing at the sentence and paragraph level. Such screeners shall be  inclu-
 sive  of  students  with  diverse racial, linguistic, and socio-economic
 backgrounds, and factor familial history.
   § 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024 and shall  expire  and
 be deemed repealed August 1, 2025.