Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1–Assemblymen Cegavske, Giunchigliani, Hettrick, Carpenter, Gibbons, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Goldwater, Gustavson, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

February 14, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, Rawson, Wiener, Porter, Washington, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Raggio, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer and Townsend

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Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Urges President and Congress of United States to increase federal funding for special education to level authorized by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (BDR R‑924)

 

FISCAL NOTE:                     Effect on Local Government: No.

                     Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Joint RESOLUTION—Urging the President and the Congress of the United States to increase federal funding for special education to the level authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

 

1-1     Whereas, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975,

1-2  now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was

1-3  enacted by the Congress of the United States to ensure that all children

1-4  with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public

1-5  education; and

1-6     Whereas, In 1975, Congress promised state and local governments that

1-7  it would fund 40 percent of the costs of providing special education and

1-8  related services to children with disabilities; and

2-1     Whereas, Congress has never appropriated funds equivalent to the

2-2  authorized level, has never exceeded the 15 percent level and has usually

2-3  appropriated funding at only about the 8 percent level; and

2-4     Whereas, The State of Nevada is committed to providing a free and

2-5  appropriate public education to children with disabilities to meet their

2-6  unique needs; and

2-7     Whereas, The costs associated with serving children with disabilities

2-8  continue to rise, and meeting those substantial costs requires a strong

2-9  partnership between local, state and federal governmental agencies; and

2-10     Whereas, The failure of Congress to fund special education programs

2-11  as it promised has forced the states to utilize funding from other necessary

2-12  local and state programs to attempt to provide these special educational

2-13  services; now, therefore, be it

2-14     Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada,

2-15  Jointly, That the Nevada Legislature hereby urges the President and

2-16  Congress of the United States to increase federal funding for special

2-17  education to the 40 percent level authorized by the Individuals with

2-18  Disabilities Education Act so that the State of Nevada and other states can

2-19  fully meet the needs of children with disabilities; and be it further

2-20     Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

2-21  a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice

2-22  President of the United States as the presiding officer of the Senate, the

2-23  Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of the Nevada

2-24  Congressional Delegation and the Superintendent of Public Instruction for

2-25  the State of Nevada; and be it further

2-26     Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.

 

2-27  H