Sec.10-76h-16. Decision, implementation, rights of appeal

(a) The written findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision and order of the hearing officer shall be final, except that any aggrieved party may appeal such decision under the provisions of 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(i)(2)(A) and the regulations adopted thereunder, as amended from time to time, section 10-76h(d)(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Pursuant to section 4-186(g) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the final decision is exempt from the provisions of Section 4-181a of the Connecticut General Statutes. A party seeking to stay a final decision shall seek that order from the court having jurisdiction over the appeal.

(b) The final decision may include comments by the hearing officer on the conduct of the proceedings. The hearing officer may issue findings of fact on the extent to which the parent has prevailed on any issue ruled upon by the hearing officer.

(c) The final decision of the hearing officer, accompanied by the appeal and enforcement procedures, shall be mailed to the parent, the public agency, or the legal counsel, if any, of all the parties and, once any personally identifiable information has been deleted, to the state advisory panel.

(d) A settlement agreement shall not constitute a final decision, prescription or order of the hearing officer. The settlement agreement may be read into the record as an agreement between the parties only.

(e) If a parent contends that a public agency is not taking action to implement a final decision of a hearing officer, the parent shall notify the due process unit in writing, specifying the alleged non-compliance. If the due process unit determines that the public agency is not in compliance, the due process unit shall take appropriate steps to ensure compliance.

(Adopted effective July 1, 2000; Amended July 1, 2013)