IDEA Fairness Restoration Act

Bill: 113-s-2790
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2014-09-10
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Disability and paralysis

Elementary and secondary education

Evidence and witnesses

Legal fees and court costs

Special education
Latest action: action_date: 2014-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-09-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>IDEA Fairness Restoration Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to include expert witness fees, including the reasonable costs of any test or evaluation necessary for the preparation of the parents' or guardians' case in the action or proceeding, within the definition of &quot;attorneys' fees&quot; that may be awarded to the prevailing party in a civil action brought under such Act.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2790 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 10, 2014 Mr. Harkin (for himself and Ms. Mikulski ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to permit a prevailing party in an action or proceeding brought to enforce the Act to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act . 2. Inclusion of expert witness fees and other expenses as attorneys' fees (a) In general Section 615(i)(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1415(i)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (H) Inclusion of expert witness fees and other expenses as attorneys' fees In this paragraph, the term attorneys' fees shall include the fees of expert witnesses, including the reasonable costs of any test or evaluation necessary for the preparation of the parent or guardian's case in the action or proceeding. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any action or proceeding brought under section 615 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1415 ) that has not been finally adjudicated as of the date of enactment of this Act.