HB1766

House Bill 1766, titled the 'Arkansas Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act,' establishes new requirements for public and certain private institutions of higher education regarding the support of students with disabilities. The bill mandates that colleges and universities adopt clear, transparent policies for evaluating student disability documentation, including Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and Section 504 plans. It requires institutions to disseminate this information in plain language to students, parents, and faculty throughout the application and enrollment process. The act also mandates an interactive process to establish reasonable accommodations and prohibits institutions from requiring re-evaluation of students with previously documented permanent disabilities. Furthermore, it requires institutions to maintain a representative list of available resources and establish procedures for handling cases where an requested accommodation might fundamentally alter a course or program. The provisions of the bill are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.