Second Regular Session Sixty-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 04-0396.01 Jeff Conway HOUSE BILL 04-1037 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Hodge SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None) House Committees Senate Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the treatment of American sign language as a foreign language in education. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.) Permits a higher education institution to offer elective courses in American sign language ("ASL"). Requires the commission on higher education ("CCHE") to adopt policies and procedures to require higher education institutions to treat ASL as a foreign language for purposes of granting and receiving academic credit. Directs CCHE to adopt policies that:  Allow students to receive academic credit either by completing the courses or by demonstrating proficiency in ASL;  Permit the academic credit to be counted toward satisfaction of an institution's foreign language requirements; and  Allow ASL academic credit to be counted toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements of a higher education institution. Permits school districts to offer one or more elective courses in ASL. Allows school districts to treat ASL as a foreign language and to:  Grant academic credit for completion of an ASL course or demonstrated proficiency in ASL; and  Count completion of an ASL course or demonstrated proficiency in ASL toward the fulfillment of any foreign language requirement for graduation. Authorizes the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind to assist:  CCHE in formulating ASL policies;  Higher education institutions in developing ASL courses;  The state board of education in promulgating ASL rules; and  School district boards of education in implementing ASL policies. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Article 1 of title 23, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 23-1-128. Commission directive - American sign language in higher education institutions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "American sign language" means the visual-gestural system of communication that is commonly used throughout the deaf community in the United States and that is fully developed, autonomous, and unique and that has its own syntax, rhetoric, grammar, and morphology. (b) "Higher education institution" means a state-supported institution of higher education. (2) On and after the effective date of this section, a higher education institution in the state may offer one or more elective courses in American sign language. (3) (a) On or before December 1, 2004, the commission shall adopt the necessary policies and procedures to require higher education institutions in the state to treat American sign language as a foreign language for purposes of granting and receiving academic credit. (b) The commission shall specify in the policies and procedures described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) that: (I) A student who is enrolled in a higher education institution that offers American sign language courses may receive academic credit for the courses either by completing the courses or by demonstrating proficiency in American sign language, if the higher education institution gives credit for completing courses or demonstrating proficiency in any other foreign language; (II) Academic credit received for either completing an American sign language course or demonstrating proficiency in American sign language may be counted toward satisfaction of any foreign language requirements of the higher education institution offering the courses; and (III) Academic credit received for either successful completion of American sign language courses in a secondary school or higher education institution or demonstrated proficiency in American sign language may be counted toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements of a higher education institution in the state. SECTION 2. Article 32 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 22-32-133. American sign language. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "American sign language" means the visual-gestural system of communication that is commonly used throughout the deaf community in the United States and that is fully developed, autonomous, and unique and that has its own syntax, rhetoric, grammar, and morphology. (b) "School district" means any school district organized and existing pursuant to law, but does not include a junior college district. (c) "State board" means the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution. (2) On and after the effective date of this section, a school district may offer one or more elective courses in American sign language. (3) A school district may elect to treat American sign language as a foreign language and may: (a) Grant academic credit for completion of an American sign language course or demonstrated proficiency in American sign language on the same basis as the successful completion of a foreign language; and (b) Count completion of an American sign language course or demonstrated proficiency in American sign language toward the fulfillment of any foreign language requirement for graduation. SECTION 3. Article 80 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 22-80-118. Provide assistance - public education - American sign language. (1) The school may, upon request, provide assistance, advice, and guidance to: (a) The Colorado commission on higher education regarding the adoption of the policies and procedures involving American sign language described in section 23-1-128 (3), C.R.S.; (b) Higher education institutions regarding the development, establishment, and teaching of American sign language courses; (c) The state board of education regarding the promulgation of rules involving American sign language described in section 22-32-133; and (d) School district boards of education in implementing American sign language policies described in section 22-32-133. SECTION 4. Effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution (August 4, 2004, if adjournment sine die is on May 5, 2004); except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.