This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Education to increase postsecondary educational opportunities and support employability for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Under the grant program, the department awards competitive grants to institutions of higher education in the State to develop and implement program plans that offer students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder, to the greatest extent possible, the same rights, privileges, experiences, benefits and outcomes in a higher education experience as students without disabilities. The bill requires that, in order to receive funding under the grant program, program plans developed by institutions of higher education must meet the requirements of a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 so that students enrolled in the program plan may be eligible for certain federal grants and work-study programs. The bill requires institutions of higher education to use
25% of the funds received through the grant program for scholarships for students participating in the program plan. Finally, the bill requires institutions of higher education that have been awarded grants to make periodic reports to the department concerning the progress and sustainability of their program plans and requires the department to annually report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program.