FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 435

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES MERIDETH, GRAHAM, LEVIN, (Co-sponsors), BRITT AND WALTON.

Read 1st time January 18, 2001, and 1000 copies ordered printed.

TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk

1365L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 1, RSMo, relating to laws and statutes by adding thereto one new section relating to the recognition of languages used by the deaf community.



Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Chapter 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 1.029, to read as follows:

1.029. 1. American Sign Language, as defined in section 209.285, RSMo, or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community shall be recognized as autonomous, unique, visual-gestural language with its own syntax, rhetoric, grammar and morphology.

2. American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community shall be recognized as a language of many deaf persons in the state of Missouri.

3. The teaching, study and learning of American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community is encouraged in all schools in the state of Missouri. Any state educational institution may offer one or more elective courses in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community and when American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community is offered by a Missouri educational institution it shall be treated the same as any other foreign language.

4. Students enrolled in any state educational institutions that offer courses in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community may receive academic credit for such courses by either taking such courses or by demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community if the school gives credit for demonstrating proficiency in any other foreign language. Academic credit received for either taking courses in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community or demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community shall be counted towards satisfaction of any foreign language requirements of the institution teaching such courses. Academic credit received for either successful completion of courses in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community in a secondary school or demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community shall be counted towards satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements of any institution of higher education located in the state of Missouri.

5. Only qualified persons who know and use the language shall be employed to teach American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community in Missouri schools.

6. The Missouri commission for the deaf shall provide assistance, advice, and guidance on the development, establishment and teaching of courses in American Sign Language or any other generally accepted means of communication by the deaf community in Missouri schools when needed and requested.


Missouri House of Representatives