The bill amends Section 16-24-18 of the General Laws concerning the transition from school to self-sufficient adulthood for students with disabilities. It establishes an interagency transition council within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which will include representatives from various state departments, young persons with disabilities, parents, local school districts, and community-based service providers. The council's primary goal is to ensure that students with disabilities are adequately prepared to live and work in the community after leaving school. It will draft and propose revisions to a cooperative agreement among state departments for providing transition services, oversee its implementation, and issue annual reports on the status of these services.

Key changes in the bill include the replacement of the "human resource investment council" with the "governor’s workforce board" and the "Commissioner of higher education" with the "Postsecondary commissioner." Additionally, the definition of "young person(s) with a disability" has been updated to include those with a Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 504 plan, aligning the transition planning requirements for students with such plans to those already in place for students with individualized education programs (IEPs). The bill aims to enhance the transition planning process for all students with disabilities, ensuring they receive the necessary support to achieve successful adult lives.

Statutes affected:
234: 16-24-18