Signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that abolishes the Oregon School for the Blind and uses proceeds from its sale to provide resources to blind students in their home communities.

Highlights:

-Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to close the Oregon School for the Blind prior to September 1, 2009 (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Education to create a transition plan for all students who were enrolled in 2009 or were expected to enroll in the 2009-2010 year in the Oregon School for the Blind (Sec. 3). -States that transition plans may include any of the following: technology purchases, curriculum development, staff training, family training and other resources. Plans may not include residential services (Sec. 3). -Orders the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to develop a plan to sell the school building. Proceeds of the sale will go to the Education Stability Fund (Sec. 6). -Creates a Blind and Visually Impaired Students Fund to assist blind and visually impaired students in the public school system and appropriates $2,985,218 to this fund (Sec.10). -Allocates $2,850,000 for transition costs and other services for blind and visually impaired students and for closure of the Oregon School for the Blind (Sec. 38).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that abolishes the Oregon School for the Blind and uses proceeds from its sale to provide resources to blind students in their home communities.

Highlights:

-Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to close the Oregon School for the Blind prior to September 1, 2009 (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Education to create a transition plan for all students who were enrolled in 2009 or were expected to enroll in the 2009-2010 year in the Oregon School for the Blind (Sec. 3). -States that transition plans may include any of the following: technology purchases, curriculum development, staff training, family training and other resources. Plans may not include residential services (Sec. 3). -Orders the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to develop a plan to sell the school building. Proceeds of the sale will go to the Education Stability Fund (Sec. 6). -Creates a Blind and Visually Impaired Students Fund to assist blind and visually impaired students in the public school system and appropriates $2,985,218 to this fund (Sec.10). -Allocates $2,850,000 for transition costs and other services for blind and visually impaired students and for closure of the Oregon School for the Blind (Sec. 38).

Full Bill Text