Vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires parents of newborns or infants who are determined to be hard of hearing to be provided with informational pamphlets about visual and auditory communication and language options, including, but not limited to, American Sign Language (ASL) and Listening and Spoken Language.

Highlights:

• Requires that the pamphlet be developed by the Department of Education and be provided by an audiologist or a local provider of the Early Start Program (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to convene an advisory stakeholder panel to contribute to the development of the pamphlet, including the following members (Sec. 1):
• An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses auditory-oral language, appointed by the Governor;
• An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses ASL, appointed by the Governor;
• An educator of the deaf in an auditory-oral educational setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;
• An educator of the deaf in an ASL education setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;
• A parent representative of a child who primarily uses auditory-oral communication methods, appointed by the Governor;
• A parent representative of a child who primarily uses ASL, appointed by the Governor;
• A representative of a nonprofit organization that services primarily auditory-oral learners, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly;
• A representative of a nonprofit organization that services primarily ASL learners, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly;
• A researcher engaged in the study of auditory-oral communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, appointed by the Governor;
• A researcher engaged in the study of ASL and communication modalities for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, appointed by the Governor;
• Two adults who are deaf or hard of hearing, and who primarily use other visual communication modalities, appointed by the Governor;
• An audiologist who specializes in evaluating and treating infants, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly;
• A physician who specializes in pediatric otolaryngology, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and
• The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or his or her designee, who shall be an ex officio member.

• Requires at least five members appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to be deaf or hard of hearing adults (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Language and Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Fund in the State Treasury, which shall contain donations and any federal funds that have been made available for implementing the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits entities or individuals with a commercial interest relating to communication options or products for the deaf or hard of hearing from contributing money to the fund (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text