A proposal to adjust the funding method of education services provided for students placed in treatment centers passed its first committee hearing on Friday (Jan. 20).

 

House Education committee members unanimously passed House Bill 1021, which revises certain provisions regarding the education provided for children in certain residential treatment centers.

 

S.D. Department of Education CFO Tami Darnall told committee members the bill was “simplifying a process and removing road blocks for services for kids.”

 

Darnall said HB 1021 would implement a provision for DOE to pay tuition for education services of the student directly to the treatment center in which they are placed, instead of counting the student on the fall enrollment of a school district.

 

The funding, which is approximately $160,000 and was included in the Governor’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal, will cover students still in parental custody, but not in on IEP or behavioral plans.

 

Darnall added HB 1021’s change removes road blocks for some students placed in treatment centers as in the past, some students have been turned away for service due to the discrepancy in cost for students who remained in parental custody instead of state custody, but needed to be placed in the centers.

 

HB 1021 now moves to the House floor for review by the full body.

 

For more information on the legislative session, check the ASBSD Blog, Twitter feed and Bill Tracker.