ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: HHS DP 8-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 29-0-1-0

SB 1092: deaf; hard of hearing; deafblind

Sponsor:  Senator Pace, LD  25

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Requires the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) to act as a bureau of information for the deafblind. Requires ACDHH to make recommendations to the Legislature to optimize the language acquisition and literacy development for deaf and hard of hearing children.

History

The ACDHH currently works with community leaders to provide services, outreach and educational opportunities to deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing citizens in Arizona. Their workshop and informational sessions include but are not limited to: 1) hearing loss; 2) deaf culture; 3) ADA and civil rights information; 4) legal rights; and 5) employment issues (ACDHH).

Under current law, the ACDHH is required to act as a bureau of information to the deaf, hard of hearing, state agencies and institutions providing services to the deaf and hard of hearing, local agencies of government and other public or private community agencies and programs. ACDHH duties include: 1) informing the deaf and hard of hearing of their available programs and services; 2) developing and fostering a framework for consultation and cooperation with certain rehabilitation services; 3) studying issues relating to the deaf and hard of hearing; 4) reviewing the problems of the deaf and hard of hearing; 4) submitting an annual report to the Governor and Legislature concerning its findings and recommendations; 5) reviewing the problems of the deaf and hard of hearing as they relate to the need for auxiliary aids in public places; 6) reviewing and compiling information on the development of acoustical technology for the hard of hearing; 7) making recommendation to state organizations on meeting the needs of the hard of hearing; and 8) making recommendations to the Legislature regarding statutory changes needed for a statewide newborn child hearing loss screening program (A.R.S. § 36-1944).

Provisions

1.   Defines deafblind. (Sec. 1)

2.   Requires the ACDHH to act as a bureau of information to the deafblind, state agencies and institutions providing services to the deafblind. (Sec. 2)

3.   Instructs the ACDHH to:

a)   Inform the deafblind of the availability of the programs and activities of the ACDHH and other services available at all levels of government;

b)   Study issues relating to the deafblind, review the administration and operation of various programs for the deafblind and make recommendations concerning these problems and programs;

c)   Review the problems of the deafblind as they relate to the need for effective and appropriate auxiliary aids in public places; and

d)   Make recommendations to state agencies, political subdivisions and institutions on how to meet the needs of the deaf and the deafblind. (Sec. 2)

4.   Requires the ACDHH to make recommendation to the legislature regarding statutory changes needed to:

a)   Develop and support statewide newborn child hearing loss screening programs; and

b)   Develop and update assessment standards that optimize the language acquisition and literacy development of deaf and hard of hearing newborns, infants and children. (Sec. 2)

5.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-2) ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

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9.                     SB 1092

10.  Initials EB/SF        Page 0 Health & Human Services

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