SB 657 - This act prohibits the Administrative Hearing Commission from employing anyone or using the services of any independent contractor or consultant for due process hearings who, within the past five years, has been employed by or performed work as an independent contractor for a school district, an organization engaged in special education advocacy, the State Board of Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or been party to a special education proceeding as an attorney, parent, or child. In addition, this act prohibits the State Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from entering into a contract with or on behalf of the Administrative Hearing Commission for the purpose of conducting, or providing assistance for the conducting, of due process hearings. All funds necessary for the payment of expenditures incurred by the Administrative Hearing Commission attributable to due process hearings must be appropriated to the Administrative Hearing Commission Educational Due Process Hearing Fund. These funds are prohibited from being appropriated to the State Board of Education or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. MICHAEL RUFF