PETITION OF:

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 is hereby amended by inserting after section 1C the following section:

Section 1D. Workshop on Information and Treatment Options for Students with Disabilities that Qualify for Special Education Benefits.

SECTION 2. Section 9A of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by after the second sentence, inserting the following:

The department of education shall provide a workshop curriculum on medication information and alternatives to medication treatment options for students with disabilities that qualify for special education benefits to each school district in the commonwealth to be used by such school districts in conducting the workshops required by section 1D of chapter 71.

SECTION 3. The second sentence of the second paragraph of Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by inserting after the phrase “The department shall further take any and all steps necessary to monitor and enforce compliance with all other provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to” the following “: the requirement that school committees establish and monitor parent advisory committees;

SECTION 4. The third sentence of the twentieth paragraph of Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by inserting after the phrase “The parent advisory council duties shall include but not be limited to:” the following: “holding monthly council meetings;”

SECTION 5. The third sentence of the twentieth paragraph of Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by striking the words “meeting regularly” and inserting in place thereof, “meet no less than every other month”

SECTION 6. Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by inserting after the fourth sentence of the twentieth paragraph, the following new sentences:

The parent advisory council shall make reasonable efforts to publicize its existence to all parents of children with disabilities. Such efforts shall include but not be limited to: creating an informational brochure about the organization which shall accompany the Notice of Procedural Safeguards given to parents; provide notice of meetings times and locations not less than a month in advance through several mediums which may include web-sites, e-mail, bulletin boards and newsletters; and communication with other school committees and councils such as school councils, parent teacher organizations and leadership teams. The parent advisory council shall post agendas on local web-sites, bulletin boards and in newsletters. The parent advisory council shall report bi-annually to the school committee. Such reports shall include but not be limited to; a summary of all efforts made to publicize the council; a summary of the minutes for all meetings held which shall include the council’s goals for the upcoming months; and the status of the goals included in the previous report.

SECTION 7. Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by inserting after the last sentence of the twentieth paragraph, the following new sentence:

Such assistance shall include but not be limited to: assistance in applying for funding grants from the Secretary of Education under Title 20 of the United States Code §1471; assistance in applying to funding from any known available source; access to classrooms for meetings; access to the district experts who evaluate children referred for special education; supply materials and resources for use in mailings, brochures and other efforts to publicize the parent advisory council.

SECTION 8: Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the General Laws is hereby amended, by inserting after the twentieth paragraph, the following new paragraph:

The school committee shall review the parent advisory council’s bi-annual reports. If the school committee finds that the parent advisory council is non-compliant with the provisions of this chapter the school committee shall issue a warning to the parent advisory council.