2016 -- S 2672

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Walaska, Gallo, and Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-26-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-26 entitled "School for

the Deaf [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     16-26-7. Persons admissible. -- (a) All children of parents, or under the control of

guardians or other persons, legal residents of this state, between the ages from birth to twenty-one

(21) years, whose hearing or speech, or both, are impaired who are deaf or hard-of-hearing as to

make it impracticable for this student to make progress toward his or her educational goals by

attending the public schools may attend the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, without charge,

under any rules and regulations as the board of regents for council on elementary and secondary

education may establish. All children of parents, or under the control of guardians or other

persons, legal residents of this state, between the ages from birth to twenty-one (21) years, who

are not deaf or hard-of-hearing but present with significant speech impediments as to make it

educationally beneficial to access the full curriculum through instruction conducted in fluent sign

language as utilized by the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, may also attend said school, subject

to the provisions of §16-26-12.

      (b) Deaf persons from birth to twenty-one (21) years, who are legal residents of the state,

shall be entitled to the privilege of the school without charge subject to the provisions of §16-26-

12, and for any period of time in each individual case as may be deemed appropriate by the board

of regents for council on elementary and secondary education; residents of other states may be

admitted upon the payment of any rates of board and tuition as may be fixed by the board council.

     (c) The board of trustees, with prior approval by the department of elementary and

secondary education, is authorized to accept voluntary enrollment of siblings of students who are

admissible under subsection (a) if the board determines it will assist in meeting the needs of said

students and the educational needs of the siblings.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

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     This act would enable children of parents or under the control of guardians who are legal

residents of Rhode Island between birth and age twenty-one, who are not deaf or hard-of-hearing

but present with significant speech impediments, to attend the Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

In addition, the board of trustees may accept siblings of students if the enrollment would meet the

needs of the student and siblings.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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