State Legislation

Introduced in January 2017, this bill increases the maximum income tax deduction that is allowed for contributions to a disability expense account or federally tax-advantaged college savings plan in Ohio. The legislation doubles the permitted maximum income tax deduction from $2,000 to $4,000 per year for each beneficiary. It also creates a Joint Committee on Ohio College Affordability to review and recommend strategies to lower the cost of attending college.

Enrolled in 2017, this bill extends eligibility for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) to certain individuals with intellectual disabilities. These individuals must be enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program (CTP) in order to qualify.

Introduced in January 2018, this legislation would create a statewide commission on persons with disabilities. Every three years the commission will produce a comprehensive integrated statewide plan to address disability policy needs at all stages of life. The plan will inform the Governor of Washington’s decisions concerning disability policy. The commission will also produce an annual report on public policies, programs, services, rules and regulations that affect people with disabilities in Washington.

Expired in 2019, this bill would have required the trustees of the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to create regulations that would establish a two-year college experience program for students with developmental disabilities at each SUNY and CUNY postsecondary education institution. The college experience programs the schools develop must include practical living skills in its academic curriculum, including but not limited to cooking, personal finance, health and wellness, and interpersonal communications.

Introduced in February 2019, this bill directs the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to inform students from 7th grade onwards about planning and preparing for postsecondary education opportunities. This includes students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families, who should receive guidance on appropriate coursework to pursue in high school, how to plan for PSE early, how to evaluate PSE programs before applying to or enrolling in them, how to transfer credits across higher education institutions, and financial assistance options for PSE in Minnesota.

Enacted in July 2018, this legislation authorizes the Delaware Advance Scholarship Program, which provides scholarship opportunities for Delaware students with intellectual disabilities who are seeking a comprehensive certificate or degree at a public higher education institution. Scholarship recipients will receive grants to cover the cost of tuition at a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) at a state-funded higher education institution in Delaware.

Introduced in January 2018, this bill would have created the Vermont Promise Scholarship Program to provide tuition-free scholarships for Vermont students who attend the University of Vermont or a Vermont State College. In order to qualify for a Promise Scholarship, students must have been recently accepted or be enrolled fully at such an institution. Recipients must be Vermont residents seeking a certificate, associate's degree or bachelor's degree, and should be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours a semester with a 2.5 GPA or higher.

The Minnesota State Legislature, in its 2017 session, requested that the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota provide a two-year residential academic program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at the University of Minnesota Morris effective with the 2018-2019 academic year. This report was written in response to the legislative request, providing a preliminary outline of the program as it would be designed and implemented on the Morris campus.

Introduced in March 2016, this Washington State bill proposed a blue ribbon commission to develop a strategic plan to improve education at all levels for students with disabilities. Commission members  include education advocates, researchers, educators, parents, students, and mental health professionals appointed by the governor.