SB 17 Summary

• Creates "Bryce's Law," a scholarship program for children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or cerebral palsy from birth through age 19, funded through tax-exempt charitable scholarship granting organizations.

• Establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children composed of seven members appointed by the commissioner of education to advise on state board policies relating to gifted and talented education.

• Creates the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council with eleven voting members (including CTE teachers, business representatives, and college/university representatives) and three nonvoting ex-officio members to develop strategic plans and provide oversight recommendations.

• Modifies teacher certification requirements to include American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) pathway and adjusts minimum retirement ages and benefit formulas for public school retirement systems based on membership date.

• Allows religious books to be used in classroom instruction for elective literature and history courses so long as use does not violate the First Amendment establishment clause.