(a) Prior to the discharge of any disabled child or youth who has an active individualized education program from a public hospital, proprietary hospital, or residential medical facility pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 56167) of Chapter 2 of Part 30 of the Education Code, a licensed children’s institution or foster family home pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 56155) of Chapter 2 of Part 30 of the Education Code, or a state hospital or developmental center, the following shall occur:

(1) The operator of the hospital or medical facility, or the agency that placed the child in the licensed children’s institution or foster family home, shall, at least 10 days prior to the discharge of a disabled child or youth, notify in writing the local educational agency in which the special education program for the child is being provided, and the receiving special education local plan area where the child is being transferred, of the impending discharge.

(2) The operator or placing agency, as part of the written notification, shall provide the receiving special education local plan area with a copy of the child’s individualized education program, the identity of the individual responsible for representing the interests of the child for educational and related services for the impending placement, and other relevant information about the child that will be useful in implementing the child’s individualized education program in the receiving special education local plan area.

(b) Once the disabled child or youth has been discharged, it shall be the responsibility of the receiving local educational agency to ensure that the disabled child or youth receives an appropriate educational placement that commences without delay upon his or her discharge from the hospital, institution, facility, or foster family home in accordance with Section 56325 of the Education Code. Responsibility for the provision of special education rests with the school district of residence of the parent or guardian of the child unless the child is placed in another hospital, institution, facility, or foster family home in which case the responsibility of special education rests with the school district in which the child resides pursuant to Sections 56156.4, 56156.6, and 56167 of the Education Code.

(c) Special education local plan area directors shall document instances where the procedures in subdivision (a) are not being adhered to and report these instances to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 144, Sec. 20. (AB 1847) Effective January 1, 2015.)