House Bill No. 5001, also known as Public Act No. 25-67, seeks to improve the quality and delivery of special education services in Connecticut, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill repeals and replaces Section 10-76a, expanding the definition of "child requiring special education" to include those aged three to eight, and introduces new terms such as "charging entity" and "provider of special education transportation services." It establishes guidelines for charging entities regarding fees for services under individualized education programs, prohibiting fee increases without changes in services, while allowing adjustments for substantial cost increases with Department of Education approval. The Department is also tasked with creating a rate schedule for related services by January 1, 2028, and ensuring stakeholder consultation and biennial reviews of established rates.

Additionally, the bill mandates that local and regional boards of education must not use increased funding to replace existing special education funding and requires annual expenditure reports detailing the use of grant funds. It introduces new licensure standards for private providers, mandates audits and site visits by the Department of Education, and establishes a planning and placement team meeting requirement before transferring students. The bill also emphasizes the importance of functional behavior assessments before out-of-district placements and mandates the development of a user-friendly individualized education program (IEP) form by July 1, 2025. Overall, House Bill No. 5001 aims to enhance oversight, accountability, and the quality of special education services while ensuring that the needs of students are prioritized.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 25-67: 10-76a, 10-262j, 10-74u, 10-76d, 2-137, 10-76mm, 10-91j