07 LC 33
1908
Senate
Bill 206
By:
Senators Thomas of the 2nd, Butler of the 55th, Tate of the 38th, Seay of the
34th, Brown of the 26th and others
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 may be accepted for
elective credit or foreign language credit 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 the official state 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 20-2-151.1, 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 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
or by a local
board of education for one unit of
elective credit or for
the
third
one
unit of foreign language credit
or, for a
demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language, for the equivalent of the
required two units of a foreign language
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.
(a)
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.
(b)
American Sign Language is recognized as the official state language of the deaf
community in Georgia."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.