GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 1641*

Short Title:     Study Disabled Access to UNC Facilities.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Bryant, T. Harrell, Harrison, Luebke (Primary Sponsors);  Brown, Cotham, Dickson, Wainwright, Weiss, and Wiley.
Referred to:	Education, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

April 19, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to direct the board of governors of the university of north carolina to study the accessibility of its facilities to severely physically disabled individuals seeking basic access to higher education within the State university system.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall study the accessibility of its facilities to severely physically disabled individuals seeking basic access to higher education at constituent institutions within the State University System. In its study, the Board of Governors may consider all of the following:

(1)       What specific educational assistance the State has funded that would be available to severely physically disabled individuals.

(2)       What specific educational assistance the State currently funds that would be available to severely physically disabled individuals.

(3)       The role of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Health and Human Services in providing educational assistance at public and private universities or secondary schools that was, or currently is, available to severely physically disabled individuals.

(4)       Whether the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Health and Human Services could provide for the personal care of severely physically disabled students at one or more constituent institutions within the State University System.

(5)       The desirability and feasibility of making the facilities of one constituent institution accessible to severely physically disabled students.

(6)       The estimated costs of making the facilities of one constituent institution accessible to severely physically disabled students and providing for the personal care of severely physically disabled students at this institution.

(7)       Whether the Illinois program to support its physically disabled population at its state universities offers any guidance to North Carolina.

(8)       Any other issues the Board of Governors deems pertinent to its study under this section.

SECTION 2.  No later than May 1, 2008, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall submit a report of its study to the Fiscal Research Division and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, including its findings, recommendations, and any legislative proposals.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.