ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
DATE: February 14, 2023
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1402, relating to ASDB
Purpose
Expands the population served by the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB)
to include children with at least one disability as defined.
Background
ASDB provides schools and programs for the education of persons with visual or hearing
impairment and serves as an optional resource to school districts, state institutions and approved
educational programs. ASDB is a local education agency responsible for providing a free and
appropriate public education to students enrolled in its campuses. Subject to statutorily-outlined
admission procedures, Arizona residents who are 3 years old through 22 years old and are sensory
impaired to the extent that they cannot acquire appropriate education in their school district of
residence are entitled to education in the ASDB. ASDB may also enroll children under 3 years old
who would benefit from a specialized program (Laws 1929, Chapter 93; A.R.S. §§ 15-1302;
15-1306; and 15-1341 – 15-1344). Sensory impairment is: 1) a visual impairment; 2) hearing
impairment; 3) both a visual impairment and hearing impairment; or 4) multiple disabilities if at
least one of the disabilities is a visual impairment or hearing impairment (A.R.S. § 15-1301).
ASDB receives funding in the form of special education vouchers issued by the Arizona
Department of Education according to a statutory formula based on the Group B weights for which
the attending student qualifies (A.R.S. § 15-1204). If expanding the population entitled to education
in ASDB results in a change in Basic State Aid or vouchers paid to ASDB, there may be a fiscal
impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Designates ASDB to be for the education of children with disabilities, rather than of persons
who are sensory impaired, so that the persons educated may become self-sustaining and useful
citizens.
2. Entitles, to an education in ASDB without charge, an Arizona resident who is 3 through 21
years old and has at least one of the following disabilities, rather than who is sensory-impaired,
to the extent the person cannot acquire an appropriate education in their school district of
residence:
a) autism;
b) developmental delay;
c) emotional disability;
d) hearing impairment;
e) other health impairments;
f) specific learning disability;
LAURA BENITEZ
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Telephone: (602) 926-3171 STRIKER MEMO
S.B. 1402
Page 2
g) mild, moderate or severe intellectual disability;
h) multiple disabilities;
i) multiple disabilities with severe sensory impairment;
j) orthopedic impairment;
k) preschool severe delay;
l) speech-language impairment;
m) traumatic brain injury; and
n) visual impairment.
3. Authorizes ASDB to enroll a child who is under three years old without charge if the child has
at least one of the outlined disabilities, rather than if the child is sensory impaired.
4. Specifies that the requirement for the chief administrative official of a child's home school
district and ASDB Superintendent to locate or establish a program for a child for whom ASDB
cannot provide the appropriate education does not allow ASDB to refuse to enroll a person
who is statutorily entitled to education in ASDB.
5. Replaces, on a child's placement and evaluation team, a certified teacher of children with a
sensory impairment with a certified teacher of children with disabilities.
6. Requires, for the evaluator on a child's placement and evaluation team, that preference be given
to an evaluator who is trained and experienced in evaluating the educational needs of children
with disabilities, rather than of children with a sensory impairment.
7. Requires the ASDB Board of Directors to ensure that the best methods of teaching children
with disabilities, rather than who are sensory impaired, are used in ASDB.
8. Applies the definition of child with a disability for the purposes of special education to
definition for the purposes of ASDB.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.