INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An advocate for children with disabilities says she believes Indiana state senators never took seriously a bill they defeated in a rare 0-50 vote that would have changed the handling of special education disputes between families and schools.
No senators spoke against the bill, but some laughed and shouted at bill sponsor Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn to change his “yes” vote so that the final tally was unanimously “no” on Tuesday. Some cheered as the result was announced.
“I felt defeated … It’s kind of an embarrassment for me to have a bill, you know, fail zero to 50,” Kruse told WFYI-FM of Indianapolis.
Kruse said he was reluctant to call the bill for a vote because he knew it would fail but that some senators urged him to do so. That’s because they wanted to vote down a provision opposed by many school administrators that would have prohibited schools from requiring parents to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition for settling disputes over special education services, he said.
Kim Dodson, CEO of the advocacy group Arc of Indiana, said the Senate’s action hurt children with disabilities and their families.”