Bill Text: HI SB2476 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Deaf; Hard of Hearing; Deaf-blind; Early Language Services; Working Group
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-07-01 - Act 177, 06/30/2016 (Gov. Msg. No. 1279). [SB2476 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB2476-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2476 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind have the same ability and capability to learn language as their peers who do not have a similar disability. The ability and right to develop language are central to the human experience and necessary prerequisites to literacy as well as cognitive, emotional, linguistic, academic, and social growth and the chance for children to evolve into healthy and productive members of society.
The legislature further finds that children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind often begin kindergarten without the necessary language skills to acquire the knowledge and academic competencies that will allow them to be successful in school and life.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish an early learning acquisition program with various services for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind within the department of health to support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age three years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
(2) Establish a working group for the purposes of investigating issues related to resources and tools for parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and improvements on statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind; and
(3) Appropriate funds for various positions to support the early language acquisition program and children from birth to age five who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§321- Early language acquisition program for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. There is established within the department of health an early language acquisition program to support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age three years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Program services may include service providers and mentors of the deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who use American Sign Language; service providers and mentors of the deaf who use oral language; American Sign Language teachers for families of young children; family-to-family support; and training of early intervention providers."
SECTION 3. (a) The department of health, department of education, and executive office of early learning shall establish and convene a working group for the purpose of making recommendations to the legislature on issues related to supporting age-appropriate development for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. The working group may include the following members to be selected by the director of health:
(1) One parent of a child aged five years or younger who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who uses American Sign Language;
(2) One parent of a child aged five years or younger who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who uses oral language;
(3) One parent of a child aged five years or younger who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who uses cochlear implant device;
(4) One parent or teacher of a child aged five years or younger who is deaf-blind who is familiar with the language needs of a child who is deaf-blind;
(5) One credentialed teacher who uses American Sign Language for children aged five years or younger who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
(6) One credentialed teacher who uses oral language for children aged five years or younger who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
(7) One advocate for the teaching and use of American Sign Language;
(8) One advocate for the teaching and use of oral language;
(9) One early intervention specialist who works with infants and toddlers using American Sign Language;
(10) One early intervention specialist who works with infants and toddlers using oral language;
(11) The early intervention section supervisor or program manager;
(12) One representative from the disability and communication access board;
(13) One representative from the executive office of early learning;
(14) One representative from the department of education;
(15) One representative from the English as a Second Language community; and
(16) Other experts, including audiologists and speech language pathologists, with knowledge of language assessment and intervention for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
Working group members may include representation from each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui and the city and county of Honolulu.
(b) The working group shall examine the following:
(1) A resource guide for parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind that may include milestones of age-appropriate language development, websites related to deafness and hearing loss, national and state organizations and resources for families, terms and definitions related to deafness and hearing loss, and communication choices;
(2) Tools used to assess and plan language development services for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
(3) The report of the department of health, department of education, and executive office of early learning on the statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
(4) Improvements concerning the statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind; and
(5) Improvements concerning the transition of children at age three years from the department of health early intervention services to the department of education services.
(c) All activities of the departments of health and education in implementing this section shall be consistent with federal law regarding early intervention and the education of children with disabilities.
(d) The working group shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017, and a final report of the working group's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.
(e) The working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2018.
SECTION 4. 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 2016-2017 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the establishment, hiring, and filling of three permanent full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions to carry out the purposes of establishing and operating the early language acquisition program.
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 2016-2017 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to teach American Sign Language for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and for operating expenses.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
Report Title:
Deaf; Hard of Hearing; Deaf-blind; Early Language Acquisition Program; Working Group; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the early language acquisition program to assess and track language development for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Establishes a working group for the purposes of investigating issues related to resources and tools for parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and improvements to the statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Requires working group to report to legislature. Appropriates funds for various positions to support the early language acquisition program and children from birth to age five who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
