07 SB170/CSFA/2
Senate
Bill 170
By:
Senators Smith of the 52nd, Moody of the 56th, Mullis of the 53rd, Butler of the
55th, Seay of the 34th and others
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic
Education Act," so as to provide that American Sign Language can be used to
fulfill the foreign language requirements for a college preparatory diploma for
any student; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to handicapped persons, so as
to recognize American Sign Language as an important language of the deaf
community in Georgia; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education
Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-1-151.1, relating to American Sign
Language as a foreign language for college preparatory curriculum and for
Carnegie unit elective credits, as follows:
"20-2-151.1.
(a)
For the purpose of fulfilling the foreign language requirements for a college
preparatory curriculum seal of endorsement on a high school diploma, a
demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language shall be accepted as a
foreign language
for any
student
if it is
determined that a deaf student has a hearing loss which significantly impacts
upon the student´s ability to learn a foreign language. The Individualized
Education Plan Committee may then determine that American Sign Language can
substitute for the foreign language requirements for the college preparatory
seal of endorsement for a high school diploma, and it shall be so
accepted by all local boards of education
and the State Board of Education. A demonstrated proficiency in American Sign
Language shall be accepted as the equivalent of the required two units of a
foreign language.
(b)
For the purpose of earning Carnegie unit curriculum credits at the high school
level, American Sign Language may be accepted by the State Board of Education
for one
unit two or
more units of elective credit or for
the third
unit
two or more
units of foreign language
credit,
pursuant to
for any
student who is not covered by the provisions
of subsection (a) of this Code
section."
SECTION
2.
Chapter
1 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions relative to handicapped persons, is amended by revising Code Section
30-1-6, which is reserved, to read as follows:
"30-1-6.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1)
American Sign Language is a fully developed, autonomous, natural language with
distinct grammar, syntax, and symbols, and is one of hundreds of signed
languages of the world; and
(2)
American Sign Language is the fourth most commonly used language in the United
States and Canada."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.