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Senate approves $3M measure to expand software for students with disabilities
Summary
Senate passed SB196, directing the State Board of Education to issue an RFP for software shown in pilot districts to help students with disabilities, notably autism; supporters cited strong pilot outcomes and the bill passed with the option for districts to opt in.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 21 passed SB196 to make software that supports students with disabilities available statewide after pilot programs showed promising results in multiple school districts.
Senator Niederhauser, sponsor of the bill, said the software addresses social and achievement skills for students with autism and other disabilities and directed the State Board of Education to issue an RFP so school districts may adopt it. "The outcomes have been profound in districts that have used this software," Niederhauser said on the floor.
Senator Weiler asked whether the proposal should be handled by an existing fund and questioned why $3,000,000 would not instead be added to broader autism funding; Niederhauser replied the program is educational and distinct from Medicaid-related proposals and that districts would be able to opt in rather than being forced to use the software.
Senator Stevenson and others supported statewide adoption after a successful pilot. Senator Robles, while voting yes, urged attention to complementary health-care needs for children with autism.
A floor comment noted a likely funding target of about $3,000,000 to provide the software widely; sponsor Niederhauser also indicated an amendment would remove the words "self-contained classroom" to broaden where the software can be used. The Senate recorded 21 yeas, 1 nay and 7 absent; SB196 will be placed on the third reading calendar.
