Bill Text: HI SB2580 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education; Department of Human Services; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-23 - Re-Referred to HMS/EDU, WAM. [SB2580 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2580-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2580
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a center for deaf and hard of hearing education is necessary to support a full continuum of communication options in education, including American sign language, other forms of sign language, cued speech, listening, and spoken language, or any combination of these skills.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a center for deaf and hard of hearing education.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 348, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§348-    Center for deaf and hard of hearing education; established.  (a)  There is established a center for deaf and hard of hearing education.

     (b)  The center shall carry out the following duties in an unbiased manner to ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing acquire optimal language skills and academic abilities, regardless of the mode of communication used:

     (1)  Monitor and track the identification, early intervention, education, and successful transitions of children who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth through twenty-one years of age and enrolled or preparing to enroll in early intervention services, preschool, elementary, or secondary school;

     (2)  Develop student learning opportunities;

     (3)  Provide family support;

     (4)  Develop child assessment service models, consistent with federal and state early childhood intervention and special education law, for the following:

         (A)  Audiological assessments;

         (B)  Social and developmental assessments;

         (C)  Communication assessments, including language assessments; and

         (D)  Academic achievement assessments;

     (5)  Provide classroom assessments of instruction, acoustics, and other environmental aspects;

     (6)  Assess professionals who provide students with sign language interpreting, oral interpreting, cued speech transliteration, and captioning services;

     (7)  Provide consultation to schools in providing services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing; and

     (8)  Act as a liaison with all state agencies that provide services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, including the department of education, the department of health, family and social services administration, and statewide independent programs for the deaf."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to establish a center for deaf and hard of hearing education.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education; Department of Human Services; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the center for deaf and hard of hearing education.  Requires the center to fulfill certain duties in an unbiased manner to ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing acquire optimal language skills and academic abilities.  Makes an appropriation to establish the center.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.