SECONDREGULARSESSION
HOUSECOMMITTEESUBSTITUTEFOR
HOUSEBILLNO.2150
101STGENERALASSEMBLY
4667H.02C DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsection167.225,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingto
blindandvisuallyimpairedstudents.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Section167.225,RSMo,isrepealedandonenewsectionenactedinlieu
2thereof,tobeknownassection167.225,toreadasfollows:
167.225.1.Asusedinsubsections1to4ofthissection,thefollowingtermsmean:
2 (1)"Braille",thesystemofreadingandwritingthroughtouch;
3 (2)"Student",anystudentwhohasanimpairmentinvisionthat,evenwithcorrection,
4adverselyaffectsachild'seducationalperformanceandwhoisdeterminedeligibleforspecial
5educationservicesundertheIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct.
6 2.Allstudentsshallreceiveinstructioninbraillereadingandwritingaspartoftheir
7individualizededucationplanunlesstheindividualeducationprogramteamdetermines,after
8anevaluationofastudent'sreadingandwritingskills,needs,andappropriatereadingand
9writingmedia,includinganevaluationofthestudent'sfutureneedsforinstructioninbraille
10ortheuseofbraille,thatinstructioninbrailleortheuseofbrailleisnotappropriate.No
11studentshallbedeniedinstructioninbraillereadingandwritingsolelybecausethestudent
12hassomeremainingvision.
13 3.Instructioninbraillereadingandwritingshallbesufficienttoenableeachstudent
14tocommunicateeffectivelyandefficientlyatalevelcommensuratewiththestudent'ssighted
15peersofcomparablegradelevelandintellectualfunctioning.Thestudent'sindividualized
16educationplanshallspecify:
17 (1)Howbraillewillbeimplementedastheprimarymodeforlearningthrough
18integrationwithnormalclassroomactivities.Ifbraillewillnotbeprovidedtoachildwhois
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 19blind,thereasonfornotincorporatingitintheindividualizededucationplanshallbe
20documentedtherein;
21 (2)Thedateonwhichbrailleinstructionwillcommence;
22 (3)Thelevelofcompetencyinbraillereadingandwritingtobeachievedbytheend
23oftheperiodcoveredbytheindividualizededucationplan;and
24 (4)Thedurationofeachsession.
25 4.Aspartofthecertificationprocess,teacherscertifiedintheeducationofblindand
26visuallyimpairedchildrenshallberequiredtodemonstratecompetenceinreadingand
27writingbraille.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshalladopt
28assessmentprocedurestoassesssuchcompetencieswhichareconsistentwithstandards
29adoptedbytheNationalLibraryServicefortheBlindandPhysicallyHandicapped,Libraryof
30Congress,Washington,D.C.
31 5.(1)Subsections5to9ofthissectionshallbeknownandmaybecitedasthe
32"BlindStudents'RightstoIndependence,Training,andEducationAct"orthe"BRITE
33Act".
34 (2)Asusedinsubsections5to9ofthissection,thefollowingtermsmean:
35 (a)"Accessibleassistivetechnologydevice",anassistivetechnologydevice,as
36definedin20U.S.C.Section1401,asamended,thatprovidesblindorvisuallyimpaired
37studentsthebenefitsofaneducationalprograminanequallyeffectiveandintegrated
38mannerasthatprovidedtonondisabledstudents;
39 (b)"Adequateinstruction",thequalityteachingofblindorvisuallyimpaired
40students,asitpertainstogeneraleducationandnecessaryblindnessskills,inalignment
41withtheU.S.DepartmentofEducation'sdefinitionoffreeappropriatepubliceducation,
42asdefinedin20U.S.C.Section1401,asamended;
43 (c)"Blindorvisuallyimpairedstudent":
44 a.Achildwho:
45 (i)Hasanindividualizededucationprogram(IEP)oranindividualizedfamily
46serviceplan(IFSP),assuchtermsaredefinedin20U.S.C.Section1401,asamended,or
47a504plancreatedunderSection504ofthefederalRehabilitationActof1973,29U.S.C.
48Section794,asamended;and
49 (ii)Isidentifiedashavingthedisabilityof"visualimpairment(including
50blindness)"withinthedefinitionof"childwithadisability"in20U.S.C.Section1401,
51asamended;or
52 b.Anindividualwhoisdeaf-blindunderthefederalIndividualswithDisabilities
53EducationAct(IDEA),asamended,orotherfederallaw;
54 (d)"Braille",thesystemofreadingandwritingthroughtouch;
HCSHB2150 2 55 (e)"Expandedcorecurriculum",adisability-specificcurriculumthat
56compensatesforvisionloss,isfoundationaltoallotherlearning,andthatcoversthe
57nineessentialareasofcompensatoryaccess,sensoryefficiency,assistivetechnology,
58orientationandmobility,socialinteraction,recreationandleisure,independentliving,
59self-determination,andcareereducation;
60 (f)"Gradelevelinstruction",instructionthatalignswithstate-designated
61contentstandardsandcurriculaforstudentsofthesameageorlevelofmaturity,based
62onthedevelopmentofintellectual,emotional,physical,andbehavioralcapacitythatis
63typicalforthestudent'sageoragegroup;
64 (g)"Localeducationalagency"or"LEA",thesamedefinitionasin20U.S.C.
65Section1401,asamended;
66 (h)"Nonvisualaccess",theabilityofablindorvisuallyimpairedstudenttouse
67allfunctionsofadevice,withoutusingthestudent'svision,inanequallyeffective,
68equallyintegratedmannerandwithequivalenteaseofuseasthestudent'ssighted
69peers;
70 (i)"Nonvisualskills",skillsthataretaughtinsuchawaythatthestudentdoes
71notneedtouseanyvision;
72 (j)"Stateeducationalagency",thesamedefinitionasin20U.S.C.Section1401,
73asamended;
74 (k)"Technology-mediatedlearningenvironmentsandmethods",thesettingsin
75whichelectronicandinformationtechnologyincluding,butnotlimitedto,thefollowing
76isused:
77 a.Computer-basedapplicationsandsimulations;
78 b.Personalandmobilecomputingdevicessuchassmartphonesortablets;
79 c.Web-basedplatforms;
80 d.Onlineordistance-learningprograms;
81 e.Videogames;and
82 f.Exhibitsorinstallationsthatfeaturedigitalmedia,wearabletechnology,or
83othertoolsthatsupportparticipants'engagementwithnewknowledge,skills,or
84practices;
85 (l)"U.S.AccessBoard",theindependentfederalagencycreatedin1973that
86promotesequalityforpeoplewithdisabilitiesthroughleadershipinaccessibledesign
87andthedevelopmentofaccessibilityguidelinesandstandards.
88 6.(1)EachblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentshallreceiveinstructioninBraille
89readingandwritingaspartofsuchstudent'sindividualizededucationprogram(IEP)or
90individualizedfamilysupportplan(IFSP)unlesstheIEPorIFSPteamdetermines,after
91anevaluationofthestudent'sreadingandwritingskills,needs,andappropriatereading
HCSHB2150 3 92andwritingmediaincluding,butnotlimitedto,anevaluationofthestudent'sneedsfor
93instructioninBrailleortheuseofBraille,thatinstructioninBrailleortheuseofBraille
94isnotappropriate.Noblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentshallbedeniedinstructionin
95Braillereadingandwritingsolelybecausethestudenthassomevision.Duringthe
96evaluationandIEPprocess,considerationshallbegivenregardingappropriateBraille
97instructionbasedonapotentialvisionlossduetoadegenerativemedicaldiagnosis.
98 (2)InconjunctionwiththeU.S.DepartmentofEducation'sBraillepresumption
99requirementinthefederalIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA),as
100amended,instructioninBraillereadingandwritingshallbesufficienttoenableeach
101blindorvisuallyimpairedstudenttocommunicateeffectivelyandefficientlyatalevel
102commensuratewiththestudent'ssameageandwiththestudent'snondisabledpeersof
103comparableintellectualability.Theblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sindividualized
104educationprogram(IEP)orindividualizedfamilysupportplan(IFSP)shallspecify:
105 (a)Theresultsobtainedfromanevaluationoftheblindorvisuallyimpaired
106student'sreadingandwritingskills,needs,andappropriatereadingandwritingmedia
107including,butnotlimitedto,anevaluationoftheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent's
108needsforinstructioninBrailleortheuseofBrailleincluding,butnotlimitedto,
109considerationregardingappropriateBrailleinstructionbasedonapotentialvisionloss
110duetoadegenerativemedicaldiagnosis;
111 (b)HowBraillewillbeimplemented,ifneededasdeterminedbytheIEPteam,
112asaprimarymodeforlearningthroughintegrationwithotherclassroomactivities;
113 (c)Thelengthoftheperiodofinstructionandthefrequencyanddurationof
114eachinstructionalsessionasdeterminedbytheIEPteam,whichshall,ascloselyas
115appropriatebasedonindividualneeds,beidenticaltothelevelofinstructionprovided
116tonondisabledpeers;and
117 (d)ThelevelofcompetencyinBraillereadingandwritingtobeachievedbythe
118endoftheperiod.
119 (3)Use,andprovision,ofBraillematerialsforreadingandwritingshallbe
120addressedin504plansforblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentscreatedunderSection504
121ofthefederalRehabilitationActof1973,29U.S.C.Section794,asamended.
122 7.Inconjunctionwithacademicachievementandfunctionalperformance
123requirementsof34CFR300.320(a)(2)(i),asamended,instructioninexpandedcore
124curriculumshallbeprovidedtoblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentstosupportprogress
125inthegeneraleducationcurriculum.
126 8.(1)Eachblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentshallreceiveinstructionin
127assistivetechnologyaspartofthestudent'sindividualizededucationprogram(IEP)or
128individualizedfamilysupportplan(IFSP)unlesstheIEPorIFSPteamdetermines,after
HCSHB2150 4 129anevaluationofastudent'sneeds,thatinstructioninassistivetechnologyisnot
130appropriate.Nostudentshallbedeniedinstructioninassistivetechnologysolely
131becausethestudenthassomevision.
132 (2)Inconjunctionwithaccessibleassistivetechnologyrequirementsofthe
133federalIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA)in20U.S.C.1412(a)(12)(B)
134(i),asamended,theblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentshallreceivegrade-level
135instructionthatwillequiptheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentwiththeappropriate
136technology-mediatedlearningenvironmentsandmethodstoperformonthesamelevel
137ofproficiencyexpectedofpeersofcomparableintellectualabilityandgradelevel.The
138blindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sIEPorIFSPshallspecify:
139 (a)Theresultsobtainedfromanassessmentoftheblindorvisuallyimpaired
140student'sskills,needs,andappropriateaccessibleassistivetechnologyincluding,butnot
141limitedto,anevaluationofthefutureneedsforaccessibleassistivetechnologytraining
142ortheuseofaccessibleassistivetechnology;
143 (b)Howaccessibleassistivetechnologywillbeimplementedasaprimarymode
144forlearningthroughintegrationwithotherclassroomactivities;
145 (c)Thefrequencyanddurationofeachinstructionalsession;
146 (d)Thelevelofmasteryoftheaccessibleassistivetechnologyspecifiedbythe
147blindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sassessmenttobeachievedbytheendoftheperiod;
148and
149 (e)Acknowledgmentthateither:
150 a.Theblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentmaytransporttheaccessibleassistive
151technologytoandfromschoolwithouttheneedforpayment,familyassumptionof
152liabilityforlossordamage,oranyothercosttotheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentor
153thefamily;or
154 b.Iftheaccessibleassistivetechnologyremainsatschool,theLEAwillprovide
155duplicateaccessibleassistivetechnologyintheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'shome
156withoutrequiringpayment,familyassumptionofliabilityforlossordamage,orany
157othercosttotheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentorthefamily.
158 (3)Use,andprovision,ofaccessibleassistivetechnologyshallbeaddressedin
159504plansforblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentscreatedunderSection504ofthe
160federalRehabilitationActof1973,29U.S.C.Section794,asamended.
161 9.(1)Eachblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentshallreceiveinstructionin
162orientationandmobilityaspartofthestudent'sindividualizededucationprogram
163(IEP)orindividualizedfamilysupportplan(IFSP)unlesstheIEPorIFSPteam
164determines,afteranevaluationofastudent'sneeds,thatinstructioninorientationand
HCSHB2150 5 165mobilityisnotappropriate.Nostudentshallbedeniedinstructioninorientationand
166mobilitysolelybecausethestudenthassomevision.
167 (2)Inconjunctionwithorientationandmobilityservicesrequirementsof34
168CFR300.34(c)(7),asamended,blindorvisuallyimpairedstudentsshallreceive
169orientationandmobilityinstructiontoequipeachblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent
170withtheage-appropriatetools,techniques,andnonvisualskillstonavigateinand
171aroundthestudent'shome,schools,communities,andotherenvironmentsasapplicable,
172andasexpectedofpeersofcomparableintellectualabilityandgradelevel.Theblindor
173visuallyimpairedstudent'sIEPorIFSPshallspecify:
174 (a)Theresultsobtainedfromanevaluationoftheblindorvisuallyimpaired
175student'sorientationandmobilityneedsincluding,butnotlimitedto,anevaluationof
176theblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sfutureneedsforinstructioninorientationand
177mobility;
178 (b)Howorientationandmobilitywillbeintegratedintothehome,school,and
179community;
180 (c)Thedateonwhichorientationandmobilityinstructionwillcommence;
181 (d)Thefrequencyanddurationofeachinstructionalsession;and
182 (e)Thelevelofmasteryoforientationandmobilityskillstobeachievedbythe
183endoftheperiod.
184 (3)Orientationandmobilityequipment,accommodations,andmodifications
185shallbeaddressedin504plansforblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentscreatedunder
186Section504ofthefederalRehabilitationActof1973,29U.S.C.Section794,asamended.
187 (4)Anorientationandmobilityevaluationshallbeconductedbyapersonwhois
188appropriatelycertifiedbytheNationalBlindnessProfessionalCertificationBoard
189(NBPCB)withaNationalOrientationandMobilityCertification(NOMC),orthrough
190theAcademyforCertificationofVisionRehabilitationandEducationProfessionals
191(ACVREP)asaCertifiedOrientationandMobilitySpecialist(COMS),orwhoholdsa
192nationallyrecognizedcertificationrelatedtoorientationandmobility.
193 (5)Theorientationandmobilityevaluationsdescribedinsubdivision(4)ofthis
194subsectionshalloccurinfamiliarandunfamiliarenvironments,duringthedaytimeand
195nighttime,andaroundthehome,school,andcommunityasdeterminedageappropriate
196bytheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sIEPorIFSP.
197 10.(1)Aspartofthestateeducationalagency'scertificationandrenewal
198process,educatorshiredtoteachBrailleshallbecertifiedteachersofstudentswith
199visualimpairments,holdacurrentandvalidNationalCertificationinUnifiedEnglish
200Braille(NCUEB)workingunderthesupervisionofareadingspecialist,orholda
201nationallyrecognizedcertificationrelatedtoBrailleinstruction.
HCSHB2150 6 202 (2)Aspartofthestateeducationalagency'scertificationandrenewalprocess,
203educatorshiredtoteachaccessibleassistivetechnologyshallbecertifiedteachersof
204studentswithvisualimpairments,holdavalidandcurrentCertifiedAssistive
205TechnologyInstructionalSpecialistforPeoplewithVisualImpairments(CATIS),or
206holdavalidandcurrentNationalCertificationinAccessTechnologyfortheBlind
207(NCATB)orothernationallyrecognizedcertificationrelatedtoassistivetechnology
208instructionforindividualswithvisualimpairments.
209 (3)Aspartofthestateeducationalagency'scertificationandrenewalprocess,
210specialistshiredtoteachorientationandmobilityshallholdavalidandcurrent
211NationalOrientationandMobilityCertification(NOMC)orholdacurrentandvalid
212CertifiedOrientationandMobilitySpecialist(COMS)certificationorothernationally
213recognizedcertificationrelatedtoorientationandmobilityinstructionforindividuals
214withvisualimpairments.
215 11.(1)LEAsshalldeliverservicestoblindorvisuallyimpairedstudentsina
216mannerthatatalltimesabidesbyrequirementsofthefederalIndividualswith
217DisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA),TitleIIoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct,and
218theRehabilitationActof1973,asamended,includingduringdeclaredlocal,state,or
219nationalemergencies.
220 (2)LEAsshallseekandobtainproofofcurrentlyavailablecertified
221professionalsfromanycompany,agency,orindividualtheLEAintendstocontract
222withforservicesoutlinedinsubsections5to9ofthissection.
223 (3)LEAsshallnotimposeanypreclusionsorlimitationsonastudenttoreceive
224instructioninorientationandmobilityservicesinandaroundthehome,school,or
225communitysettingincludingduringdaytimeandnighttimehours.
226 (4)LEAsmayrequireannualwrittenparentalconsenttoconducteffective
227instructionwhensuchservicesareprovidedbeforeorafterregularschoolhoursor
228whensuchservicesareprovidedawayfromtheeducationalinstitutionortheblindor
229visuallyimpairedstudent'sresidence.
230 (5)IfanLEAprohibitsanorientationandmobilityinstructorfromusingthe
231instructor'spreferredmodeoftransportationtotransportblindorvisuallyimpaired
232studentstoandfromoutsideenvironments,theLEAshallprovideanequallyeffective
233transportationalternativeforthatpurposewithoutcosttotheorientationandmobility
234instructor.Iftheblindorvisuallyimpairedstudent'sfamilyprovidestransportationfor
235thestudent,theLEAshallreimbursetheexpense.
236 12.(1)IfanLEArequiresaneyereport,theLEAshallbearallcostsassociated
237withobtainingsuchreport.LEAsshallnotdelayanevaluationforeligibilitybasedon
238theabsenceordelayofsuchreport.
HCSHB2150 7 239 (2)Allelectronicandinformationtechnologydeveloped,procured,maintained,
240orusedbyLEAsshallbecompliantwiththeU.S.AccessBoard'sSection508standards,
241asamended.
242 (3)LEAsshallanticipatetheneedfornonvisualaccessibilityandadoptpolicies
243andprocedurestoreduceoreliminatecommonbarriersexperiencedbyblindor
244visuallyimpairedstudents,parents,educators,administrators,andotherstaff.
245 13.Subsections1to4ofthissectionshallapplyinallschoolyearsendingbefore
246July1,2022.Subsections5to12ofthissectionshallapplyinschoolyear2022-23andall
247subsequentschoolyears.
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HCSHB2150 8