25 LC 61 0113
Senate Bill 133
By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, Sims of the 12th, Jones II of the 22nd, Mangham of the
55th, Anderson of the 43rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to educational programs in elementary and secondary education, so as2
to enact the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; to provide3
definitions; to require an evaluation of a blind or visually impaired student to determine such4
student's need for Braille instruction; to require Braille instruction in the individualized5
education program of a blind or visually impaired student as appropriate; to provide6
additional requirements for the individualized education program of a blind or visually7
impaired student; to provide for textbook publishers relating to electronic materials; to8
provide license requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers; to provide for related9
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
SECTION 1.12
Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,13
relating to educational programs in elementary and secondary education, is amended by14
adding a new Code section to read as follows: 15
S. B. 133
- 1 - 25 LC 61 0113
"20-2-152.3.16
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Blind Persons' Braille17
Literacy Rights and Education Act.'18
(b) For purposes of this Code section, the term:19
(1) 'Blind or visually impaired student' means a child or youth who:20
(A) Is eligible for special education services pursuant to Code Section 20-2-152 and21
the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 1400, et seq.;22
and23
(B)(i) Has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the stronger eye with correcting lenses24
or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter subtends an angular25
distance of no greater than 20 degrees; or26
(ii) Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration.27
(2) 'Braille' means the system of reading and writing through touch and includes what28
is commonly known as standard English Braille or Unified English Braille Code and the29
Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation.30
(3) 'Individualized education program' or 'IEP' shall have the same meaning as provided31
in Section 614(d) of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.32
Section 1414(d).33
(4) 'Textbooks and other instructional materials' means any literary or nonliterary works34
obtained for use in a course of study, including texts in electronic media.35
(c) Public schools in this state shall be authorized to provide Braille instruction for blind36
or visually impaired students.37
(d) In developing the individualized education program for a blind or visually impaired38
student, provisions shall be made for instruction in Braille and the use of Braille except39
when the student's IEP team expressly determines that such instruction is not appropriate40
for the student based on the outcome of an evaluation of the student's current reading and41
writing skills and specific needs using appropriate reading and writing media and of the42
S. B. 133
- 2 - 25 LC 61 0113
student's need for instruction in Braille or the use of Braille, as provided in paragraph (6)43
of subsection (e) of this Code section. Such evaluation shall be conducted by a teacher44
certified by the Professional Standards Commission as a special education visual45
impairments program teacher. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require46
instruction in Braille or the use of Braille if other special education services are appropriate47
to the blind or visually impaired student's educational needs. The provision of other48
appropriate services shall not preclude instruction in Braille or the use of Braille.49
(e) The instruction in Braille reading and writing included in a blind or visually impaired50
student's individualized education program shall be sufficient to enable such student to51
communicate effectively and efficiently with the same level of proficiency expected of the52
student's peers of comparable ability and grade level. Each such individualized education53
program shall include:54
(1) The outcomes obtained from the evaluation required under subsection (d) of this55
Code section;56
(2) How Braille will be implemented as the primary mode for learning through57
integration with other classroom activities unless other special education services are58
appropriate to the student's educational needs;59
(3) The date on which Braille instruction will commence unless other special education60
services are appropriate to the student's educational needs;61
(4) The length of the period of instruction and the frequency and duration of each62
instructional session; 63
(5) The level of competency in Braille reading and writing to be achieved by the student64
by the end of a designated period of time and the objective assessment measures to be65
used to determine the level of competency; and66
(6) For each blind or visually impaired student for whom Braille instruction is not67
indicated following the evaluation required in subsection (d) of this Code section:68
S. B. 133
- 3 - 25 LC 61 0113
(A) A statement that the decision by such student's IEP team to not include Braille69
instruction in his or her individualized education program was reached after a review70
of currently relevant literature addressing the use Braille instruction with blind and71
visually impaired students; 72
(B) A statement that the absence of Braille instruction will not impair such student's73
ability to read and write effectively; and74
(C) A statement of the evidence relied upon by the IEP team to determine that such75
student's ability to read and write effectively without Braille instruction will not be76
impaired.77
(f) All publishers of textbooks and other instructional materials sold to the state or to any78
local board of education in this state shall furnish an electronic version in which the content79
is encoded in text suitable for conversion into Braille or synthesized speech and has been80
prepared using a markup language which maintains the formatting of the information and81
can be processed by Braille translation software.82
(g) On and after July 1, 2025, the Professional Standards Commission shall not issue or83
renew a license to teach academic instruction to blind or visually impaired students unless84
the educator has, as part of his or her standard renewal requirements:85
(1) Completed a course in Braille instruction approved by the commission;86
(2) Demonstrated competence in reading and writing Braille by holding a nationally87
recognized certificate in Braille approved by the commission; or88
(3) Passed a test in Braille approved by the commission."89
SECTION 2.90
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.91
S. B. 133
- 4 -