Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two bills headed for Gov. Rick Scott's desk are intended to help move the state to the cutting edge in providing educational and financial opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities.
The Florida House gave final passage Friday to a bill (SB 642) that allows tax-free savings accounts for the disabled, with the contents not counted against eligibility for Medicaid or Social Security disability payments.
It also passed a bill (SB 602) to increase the number of children eligible for vouchers for special education programs for disabled children, adding those with autism and muscular dystrophy.
The bills are part of a package pushed in this year's legislative session by state Senate President Andy Gardiner, who has a son with Down syndrome and has become a champion of rights for the disabled.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
