Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB133 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 61 0113
2	2	Senate Bill 133
3	3	By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, Sims of the 12th, Jones II of the 22nd, Mangham of the
4	4	55th, Anderson of the 43rd and others
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
8	8	1
9	9	Annotated, relating to educational programs in elementary and secondary education, so as2
10	10	to enact the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; to provide3
11	11	definitions; to require an evaluation of a blind or visually impaired student to determine such4
12	12	student's need for Braille instruction; to require Braille instruction in the individualized5
13	13	education program of a blind or visually impaired student as appropriate; to provide6
14	14	additional requirements for the individualized education program of a blind or visually7
15	15	impaired student; to provide for textbook publishers relating to electronic materials; to8
16	16	provide license requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers; to provide for related9
17	17	matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10
18	18	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
19	19	SECTION 1.12
20	20	Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,13
21	21	relating to educational programs in elementary and secondary education, is amended by14
22	22	adding a new Code section to read as follows: 15
23	23	S. B. 133
24	24	- 1 - 25 LC 61 0113
25	25	"20-2-152.3.16
26	26	(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Blind Persons' Braille17
27	27	Literacy Rights and Education Act.'18
28	28	(b) For purposes of this Code section, the term:19
29	29	(1) 'Blind or visually impaired student' means a child or youth who:20
30	30	(A) Is eligible for special education services pursuant to Code Section 20-2-152 and21
31	31	the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 1400, et seq.;22
32	32	and23
33	33	(B)(i) Has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the stronger eye with correcting lenses24
34	34	or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter subtends an angular25
35	35	distance of no greater than 20 degrees; or26
36	36	(ii) Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration.27
37	37	(2) 'Braille' means the system of reading and writing through touch and includes what28
38	38	is commonly known as standard English Braille or Unified English Braille Code and the29
39	39	Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation.30
40	40	(3) 'Individualized education program' or 'IEP' shall have the same meaning as provided31
41	41	in Section 614(d) of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.32
42	42	Section 1414(d).33
43	43	(4) 'Textbooks and other instructional materials' means any literary or nonliterary works34
44	44	obtained for use in a course of study, including texts in electronic media.35
45	45	(c) Public schools in this state shall be authorized to provide Braille instruction for blind36
46	46	or visually impaired students.37
47	47	(d) In developing the individualized education program for a blind or visually impaired38
48	48	student, provisions shall be made for instruction in Braille and the use of Braille except39
49	49	when the student's IEP team expressly determines that such instruction is not appropriate40
50	50	for the student based on the outcome of an evaluation of the student's current reading and41
51	51	writing skills and specific needs using appropriate reading and writing media and of the42
52	52	S. B. 133
53	53	- 2 - 25 LC 61 0113
54	54	student's need for instruction in Braille or the use of Braille, as provided in paragraph (6)43
55	55	of subsection (e) of this Code section. Such evaluation shall be conducted by a teacher44
56	56	certified by the Professional Standards Commission as a special education visual45
57	57	impairments program teacher. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require46
58	58	instruction in Braille or the use of Braille if other special education services are appropriate47
59	59	to the blind or visually impaired student's educational needs. The provision of other48
60	60	appropriate services shall not preclude instruction in Braille or the use of Braille.49
61	61	(e) The instruction in Braille reading and writing included in a blind or visually impaired50
62	62	student's individualized education program shall be sufficient to enable such student to51
63	63	communicate effectively and efficiently with the same level of proficiency expected of the52
64	64	student's peers of comparable ability and grade level. Each such individualized education53
65	65	program shall include:54
66	66	(1) The outcomes obtained from the evaluation required under subsection (d) of this55
67	67	Code section;56
68	68	(2) How Braille will be implemented as the primary mode for learning through57
69	69	integration with other classroom activities unless other special education services are58
70	70	appropriate to the student's educational needs;59
71	71	(3) The date on which Braille instruction will commence unless other special education60
72	72	services are appropriate to the student's educational needs;61
73	73	(4) The length of the period of instruction and the frequency and duration of each62
74	74	instructional session; 63
75	75	(5) The level of competency in Braille reading and writing to be achieved by the student64
76	76	by the end of a designated period of time and the objective assessment measures to be65
77	77	used to determine the level of competency; and66
78	78	(6) For each blind or visually impaired student for whom Braille instruction is not67
79	79	indicated following the evaluation required in subsection (d) of this Code section:68
80	80	S. B. 133
81	81	- 3 - 25 LC 61 0113
82	82	(A) A statement that the decision by such student's IEP team to not include Braille69
83	83	instruction in his or her individualized education program was reached after a review70
84	84	of currently relevant literature addressing the use Braille instruction with blind and71
85	85	visually impaired students; 72
86	86	(B) A statement that the absence of Braille instruction will not impair such student's73
87	87	ability to read and write effectively; and74
88	88	(C) A statement of the evidence relied upon by the IEP team to determine that such75
89	89	student's ability to read and write effectively without Braille instruction will not be76
90	90	impaired.77
91	91	(f) All publishers of textbooks and other instructional materials sold to the state or to any78
92	92	local board of education in this state shall furnish an electronic version in which the content79
93	93	is encoded in text suitable for conversion into Braille or synthesized speech and has been80
94	94	prepared using a markup language which maintains the formatting of the information and81
95	95	can be processed by Braille translation software.82
96	96	(g) On and after July 1, 2025, the Professional Standards Commission shall not issue or83
97	97	renew a license to teach academic instruction to blind or visually impaired students unless84
98	98	the educator has, as part of his or her standard renewal requirements:85
99	99	(1) Completed a course in Braille instruction approved by the commission;86
100	100	(2) Demonstrated competence in reading and writing Braille by holding a nationally87
101	101	recognized certificate in Braille approved by the commission; or88
102	102	(3) Passed a test in Braille approved by the commission."89
103	103	SECTION 2.90
104	104	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.91
105	105	S. B. 133
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