HLS 20RS-1447 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 871 (Substitute for House Bill No. 391 by Representative Marino)
BY REPRESENTATIVES MARINO, BRASS, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, PRESSLY, AND
WRIGHT
STUDENTS: Revises the definition of dyslexia for purposes of testing and providing
services to students
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:7(11)(d)(i) and 2112(B), relative to screening and
3 intervention for students; to redefine the term dyslexia for purposes of testing
4 students for dyslexia and providing services to students with dyslexia; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:7(11)(d)(i) and 2112(B) are hereby amended and reenacted to
8read as follows:
9 §7. Duties, functions, and responsibilities of board
10 In addition to the authorities granted by R.S. 17:6 and any powers, duties, and
11 responsibilities vested by any other applicable laws, the board shall:
12 * * *
13 (11)
14 * * *
15 (d) For the purposes of this Paragraph:
16 (i) "Dyslexia" shall be defined as a language processing disorder which may
17 be manifested by difficulty processing expressive or receptive, oral or written
18 language despite adequate intelligence, educational exposure, and cultural
19 opportunity. Specific manifestations may occur in one or more areas, including
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-1447 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 871
1 difficulty with the alphabet, reading comprehension, writing, and spelling. an
2 unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a
3 much better reader, most commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological
4 processing, which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell
5 "Phonological processing" means the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken
6 and written language.
7 * * *
8 §2112. Testing pupils' sight and hearing; testing for dyslexia; notice to parent or
9 tutor; report to state superintendent
10 * * *
11 B. For purposes of this Section, "dyslexia" shall be defined as difficulty with
12 the alphabet, reading, reading comprehension, writing, and spelling in spite of
13 adequate intelligence, exposure, and cultural opportunity. an unexpected difficulty
14 in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, most
15 commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing, which affects the
16 ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell. "Phonological processing" means
17 the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken and written language.
18 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 871 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Marino
Abstract: Redefines "dyslexia" for the purposes of testing and providing remediation to
students.
Present law provides different definitions of "dyslexia" for different purposes. Proposed law
retains present law purposes but provides a uniform definition of the term as follows:
(1)Present law requires the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt
a program for testing students for dyslexia and related disorders and requires school
boards to provide remediation for dyslexic students in accordance with the program;
defines "dyslexia" for this purpose as a language processing disorder which may be
manifested by difficulty processing expressive or receptive, oral or written language
despite adequate intelligence, educational exposure, and cultural opportunity.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-1447 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 871
(2)Present law requires every child in public school in grades K-3 to be screened at least
once for the existence of certain impediments, including dyslexia; defines "dyslexia"
for this purpose as in (1) above.
(3)Present law requires, upon the request of a parent, student, or school personnel who
has reason to believe that a student has a need to be tested for dyslexia, that a student
be referred for testing; defines "dyslexia" for this purpose as difficulty with the
alphabet, reading, reading comprehension, writing, and spelling in spite of adequate
intelligence, exposure, and cultural opportunity.
Proposed law redefines"dyslexia" for all present law purposes as an unexpected difficulty
in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, most
commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing, which affects the ability of an
individual to speak, read, and spell; provides that "phonological processing" means the
appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken and written language.
(Amends R.S. 17:7(11)(d)(i) and 2112(B))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.