Bill Text: AZ SB1092 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Chaptered
Bill Title: Deaf; hard of hearing; deafblind
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-04-23 - Chapter 276 [SB1092 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2021-SB1092-Chaptered.html
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Senate Engrossed
REFERENCE TITLE: deaf; hard of hearing; deafblind |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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CHAPTER 276
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SENATE BILL 1092 |
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AN ACT
Amending sections 36-1941 and 36-1944, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 36-1941, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-1941. Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Commission" means the commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing.
2. "Deaf" means those persons a person who cannot generally understand speech sounds with or without a hearing aid when in optimal listening conditions.
3. "Deafblind" means a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, who has a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses, or a field defect such that the peripheral diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than twenty degrees, or a progressive visual loss having a prognosis leading to one or both of these conditions, and for whom the combination of the hearing and vision loss described affects the person's ability to communicate and receive environmental information both visually and auditorily.
3. 4. "Hard of hearing" means those persons a person who have has a degree of hearing loss greater than 40dB PTA-2, but less than 85dB PTA-2, in the better ear.
4. 5. "Interpreting" means translating or transliterating of English concepts to any necessary specialized vocabulary used by a consumer or the translating of a consumer specialized vocabulary to English concepts.
5. 6. "Necessary specialized vocabulary" includes American sign language, English based sign language, cued speech and oral interpreting.
6. 7. "PTA-2" means the average of hearing levels at one thousand, two thousand and four thousand Hz.
Sec. 2. Section 36-1944, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-1944. Duties
The commission shall act as a bureau of information to the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind, state agencies and institutions providing services to the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind, local agencies of government and other public or private community agencies and programs. In this capacity, the commission shall:
1. Inform the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind of the availability of the programs and activities of the commission and other services available for the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind at all levels of government.
2. Develop and foster a framework for consultation and cooperation with the rehabilitation services bureau of the department of economic security and with all institutions represented on the commission.
3. Study issues relating to the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind, review the administration and operation of the various programs for the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind in this state and make recommendations concerning these problems and programs to the several agencies and institutions represented on the commission as it deems necessary.
4. Submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature concerning its findings and recommendations.
5. Review the problems of the deaf, and the hard of hearing and the deafblind as they relate to the need for effective and appropriate auxiliary aids in public places.
6. Review and compile information on the development of acoustical technology for the hard of hearing and advocate the use of this technology if it deems appropriate.
7. Make recommendations to state agencies, political subdivisions and institutions on how to meet the needs of the deaf, the hard of hearing and the deafblind.
8. Make recommendations to the legislature regarding statutory changes needed:
(a) To implement a develop and support statewide newborn child hearing loss screening program programs.
(b) To develop and update assessment standards that optimize the language acquisition and literacy development of deaf and hard of hearing newborns, infants and children.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 23, 2021.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 23, 2021.
