Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 370
       
       
        
       By Senator Soto
       
       
       
       
       
       14-00255-15                                            2015370__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to students with disabilities;
    3         amending s. 1003.5716, F.S.; requiring occupational
    4         skills training be incorporated into an individual
    5         education plan for students with disabilities;
    6         providing minimum requirements; providing an effective
    7         date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Present subsections (2) through (4) of section
   12  1003.5716, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (3)
   13  through (5), respectively, a new subsection (2) is added to that
   14  section, and present subsection (3) of that section is amended,
   15  to read:
   16         1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
   17  opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
   18  age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
   19  public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
   20  individual education plan.
   21         (2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), a
   22  student with a disability shall have occupational skills
   23  training incorporated into his or her IEP to the greatest extent
   24  practicable. At a minimum, the IEP must provide for:
   25         (a) Completion of an initial oral assessment to evaluate
   26  occupational skills and abilities in grade 8.
   27         (b) Continued development of occupational skills and
   28  abilities throughout high school, including opportunities to
   29  participate in externship programs with potential employers.
   30         (c) Completion of a final oral assessment and interview in
   31  grade 12 to facilitate appropriate job placement with potential
   32  employers upon graduation.
   33         (4)(3) Any change in the IEP for the goals specified in
   34  subsection (3) (2) must be approved by the parent and is subject
   35  to verification for appropriateness by an independent reviewer
   36  selected by the parent as provided in s. 1003.572.
   37         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.