FIRST REGULAR SESSION
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE LAMPE.
2507L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 161.400, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 161.400, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 161.400, to read as follows:
161.400. 1. As used in sections 161.400 to 161.405, the term "commission" means the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing.
2. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and secondary education a commission, to be known as the "Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing", which shall be composed of [nine] nineteen members, consisting of the following:
(1) Four members of the general assembly, with two members from the senate and two members from the house of representatives. The president pro tem of the senate shall appoint one member from the senate and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint one member from the senate. The speaker of the house shall appoint one member from the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house shall appoint one member from the house of representatives;
(2) The director of the department of mental health, or his or her designee;
(3) The commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education, or his or her designee;
(4) The director of the department of health and senior services, or his or her designee;
(5) The commissioner of the department of higher education, or his or her designee;
(6) The director of the department of social services, or his or her designee;
(7) Two shall be deaf or hard of hearing;
(8) One shall be a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child;
(9) One shall be a representative of an organization representing the interests of the deaf or hard of hearing;
(10) One shall be a representative of the Missouri School for the Deaf or the department of elementary and secondary education;
(11) One shall be an interpreter for the deaf;
(12) One shall be a representative of the business community;
(13) One shall be a representative of local public school administration;
(14) One shall be a representative of Centers for Independent Living;
(15) One shall be a professional from one of the following fields: audiology, psychology, speech, pathology, mental health, or medicine.
The commission shall advise and make recommendations to the governor, general assembly, and relevant state agencies regarding matters concerning all state levels of deaf and hard of hearing services, including health care, education, and other adult and adolescent services. Each member, other than the members from the general assembly and ex officio members, shall be appointed by the governor for a term of [three] four years, except that, of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of three years, three for a term of two years and three for a term of one year. [Of the members appointed, two shall be deaf or hard of hearing, one shall be a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child, one shall be a representative of an organization representing the interests of the deaf or hard of hearing, one shall be a representative of the Missouri School for the Deaf or the department of elementary and secondary education, one shall be an interpreter for the deaf, one shall be a representative of the business community, one shall be a representative of local public school administration and one shall be a professional from one of the following fields: audiology, psychology, speech pathology, mental health or medicine.] No person shall be eligible to serve more than two successive terms, except that a person appointed to fill a vacancy may serve two additional successive terms. The members shall receive no compensation for their services on the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, but shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The provisions of this subsection shall not prevent any person serving on the commission on August 28, 1994, from completing the term for which that person was appointed.
3. A chairperson shall be selected by the commission from among its members. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson, but not less than four times per year. Professional interpreting services for the deaf members shall be provided for at every meeting of the commission, with the expense of the services to be borne by the commission.
4. The commission shall make recommendations for developing a comprehensive statewide plan for an integrated system of training, treatment, and services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals of all ages. By July 1, 2011, the commission shall issue preliminary findings and recommendations to the general assembly.
5. In preparing the state plan, the commission shall specifically perform the following responsibilities and report on them accordingly, in conjunction with state agencies:
(1) Study and report on the means for developing a comprehensive, coordinated system of care delivery across the state and ensure that resources are created, well-utilized, and appropriately spread across the state;
(2) Plan for effectively evaluating regional service areas throughout the state and their capacity, including outlining personnel and skills that exist within the service area, other capabilities that exist, and resource needs that may be unmet;
(3) Develop a recommendation for enlisting appropriate universities and colleges to ensure support and collaboration in developing certification or degree programs for students specializing in deaf and hard of hearing services. This may include degree programs in education, special education, social work, and psychology, for deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
(4) Other responsibilities may include but not be limited to:
(a) Recommend individuals to participate in a committee of major stakeholders charged with developing best mental health practices for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and treatment standards for Missouri;
(b) Examine the barriers to accurate information of the prevalence of deaf and hard of hearing individuals across the state and recommend a process for accurate reporting of demographic data.
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