Existing law requires all children with disabilities residing in the state, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services, to be identified, located, and assessed. Existing regulations adopted by the State Board of Education provide that a child who is assessed as having a specified health impairment or other health impairment is entitled to special education and related services. Those regulations define “other health impairment” as having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the environment that is due to a chronic or acute health problem and adversely affects the child’s educational performance.

This bill would require the state board to include “fetal alcohol spectrum disorder” in that definition of “other health impairment.” By broadening the group of pupils eligible for special education and related services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.