HCSHB2150--BRITEACT
SPONSOR: Shields
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonElementaryandSecondaryEducationbyavoteof15to
0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
2150.
Thisbillestablishesthe"BlindStudents'RightstoIndependence,
Training,andEducationAct"orthe"BRITEAct".
Thebillprovidesdefinitionsfor"accessibleassistivetechnology
device","adequateinstruction",and"nonvisualaccessandskills"
amongotherdefinitions.
Thebillrequiresblindandvisuallyimpairedstudentstohavean
Individualized EducationPlan,(IEP)orIndividualized Family
SupportPlan(IFSP)thatshallspecifyresultsobtainedfrom
evaluationsonreadingandwritingskills,andshouldincludethe
needforinstructioninBrailleortheuseofBraille. All
instructioninBraillereadingandwritingshallbesufficientto
allowastudenttoeffectivelyandefficientlycommunicateatan
appropriateagelevel.
Thebillincludesadditionalguidancefortheinstructionof
Brailleandtheuseofnonvisualaccessibleassistivetechnology.
Thebillprovidesdirectiontoschooldistrictsregarding
accessibleassistivetechnologyandrequiresaschooldistrictto
provideduplicativeaccessibleassistivetechnologytobeusedina
blindstudent'shomewithoutrequiringpaymentorfamilyassumption
ofliabilityforlossordamage.
Thebillrequiresdistrictstoperformanorientationandmobility
evaluationtobeconductedbycertifiedindividualsandprovides
guidanceontheinstructionfororientationandmobility,and
districtsmaynotlimitastudent'sinstructioninthehome,
school,andcommunityandprovidetransportation inthepreferred
modeoftheinstructor.
ThebillrequireseducatorshiredtoteachBraille,accessible
assistivetechnology,andorientationandmobility,toholdavalid
certificateasoutlinedinthebill.Thebillrequiresschool
districtstocomplywiththeIndividualswithDisabilities
EducationAct(IDEA)evenduringdeclaredemergencies,tobearthe
costofanyrequiredeyereport,andtodevelopnonvisual
accessibilitypoliciestoreduceoreliminatecommonbarriersfor blindindividuals
ThisbillissimilartoHB1381(2021).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthislanguageclarifies
definitionsandtermsusedbythosewhoarevisuallyimpaired.This
billmirrorslanguagefoundatthefederallevelandwill
facilitateequaleducationalopportunitiesforthevisually
impairedcommunity. Thebillalsoprovidesclaritytothegoals
forinstructionforchildrenwithvisualimpairmentsandexpands
theroleofinstructorstoensurethatchildrenareprovided
additionalsupport. Additionaltestimonywasprovidedby
individualsthatwouldbedirectlyimpactedbythisbilland
specificexamplesofthepotentialimpactofprovidingadditional
supportforvisuallyimpairedstudentswasexpressed.
TestifyingforthebillwereRepresentative Shields;AnneSilea,
DeltaGammaCenter;CarlaChristineKeirns;Dr.JaySEpstein;
KevinHollinger,HollingerConsulting,LLC;LucindaHall;Maurine
Sachs;RussellDorn;SamuelRichardCummins;StephanieSnowGebel;
ArnieC.AcDienoff;DavidBaker;StaciLEngland;MissouriNEA;
KathyHurley;RodgerCrome;andGaryWunder.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.