Sec. 10. Commissioner of Education plan to ensure greater equity of education opportunities and efficiency in use of state and federal resources for eligible children from 3 years of age to under 6 years of age who have disabilities. The Commissioner of Education shall develop and present a plan to ensure greater equity of education opportunities and greater efficiency in the use of early childhood education and preschool handicapped program resources, beginning no later than fiscal year 2005-06, for the continued implementation of free, appropriate public education services authorized in this Act for eligible children from 3 years of age to under 6 years of age who have a disability, pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 United States Code, section 1400, et seq. In examining equity and efficiency in the use of state and federal resources for early childhood education and preschool handicapped programs, the commissioner shall take into consideration relevant factors, which may include, but are not limited to, data related to 5-year-old children in the general population who are eligible to enroll in kindergarten, child count, Medicaid eligibility rate and the reports of early childhood teams regarding the eligibility status of children with disabilities who will reach 5 years of age between September 1st and October 15th of each school year in the 2006-2007 state fiscal biennium. The commissioner shall present the plan described in this section to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs during the 122nd Legislature on or before December 31, 2004. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs is authorized to introduce legislation regarding the continued implementation of free, appropriate public education services authorized in this Act during the first regular session of the 122nd Legislature.

Sec. 11. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF

General Purpose Aid for Local Schools 0308

Initiative: Deappropriates funds in fiscal year 2004-05 to recognize the savings to local schools as a result of parents choosing to delay the entry of children who are currently receiving free, appropriate public education services through the Child Development Services System into kindergarten until the start of the following school year.