PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 435

Preamble
The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1)     The Goals 2000: Educate America Act and the federal School-to-Work
Opportunities Act of 1992 include commitments to the education and preparation of
individuals with disabilities for adult life; and

(2)     Approximately 300 students with developmental disabilities leave the
public school system at the age of 21 each year; and

(3)     These transitioning students require an array of services, including day
training, habilitation, employment training, supported employment, postsecondary
education, adult services, and skills for independent living and community participation;
and

(4)     State and federal education and rehabilitation laws require interagency
collaboration and planning for students with disabilities in transition from public school
to adult life to begin not later than the age of 16, and by the age of 14, if needed; and

(5)     Investing in transitioning students with disabilities through collaborative
interagency planning and service efforts at the State and local level is cost effective and
contributes to the lifelong development and inclusion in society of individuals with
disabilities; and

(6)     The positive impact of planning and services continuation for
transitioning students has been successfully demonstrated by a cooperative service
delivery model and an interagency agreement for certain students with developmental
disabilities among the divisions of special education and rehabilitation services of the
State Department of Education, the Developmental Disabilities Administration of the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Department of Economic and
Employment Development; and

(7)     This cooperative service needs to be expanded to include all students
with disabilities; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Education

1-101.

(a) In this article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following words have
the meanings indicated.

(f) "Department" means the State Department of Education.

21-303.1.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

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