GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S	1 

SENATE BILL 855

Short Title:  Braille/Special Ed.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Odom.
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Referred to:  Human Resources.
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May 2, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE ALL VISUALLY IMPAIRED SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A BRAILLE ASSESSMENT AND APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THESE SERVICES AND FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS CERTIFIED TO TEACH BRAILLE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-113 is amended by inserting a new subsection to read:
"( f1)	The assessment required prior to the development of an individualized education program for each visually impaired student shall include a Braille skills inventory.  This inventory shall include a statement of strengths and deficits.  The assessment shall determine whether, in the opinion of all the members of the multidisciplinary team, Braille instruction and use is appropriate or whether Braille instruction and use is inappropriate because the assessment reveals that the student's visual impairment does not affect reading and writing performance commensurate with ability.  Nothing in this subsection requires the exclusive use of Braille if other, additional special education services are appropriate to the student's educational needs.  The provision of other appropriate educational services shall not preclude Braille instruction or use.
The State Board of Education shall ensure that a consideration of the appropriateness of Braille instruction and use be included in the process of developing the individualized education program for all visually impaired students and shall also ensure that the individualized education program include consideration of the goals and objectives relating to Braille instruction and use.
The State Board of Education shall adopt procedures and guidelines to implement this subsection."
Sec. 2.  Within State and federal funds available, the Department shall continue to encourage teachers of visually impaired students to obtain competence in reading and writing Braille consistent with standards adopted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  The State Board of Education shall adopt procedures and guidelines to implement this section and Section 3(b) if funds are appropriated pursuant to that section.
Sec. 3.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of $250,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $250,000 for the 1992-93 fiscal year to implement Section 1 of this act.
(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of $100,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $100,000 for the 1992-93 fiscal year to be used to send teachers of visually impaired students to South Carolina, Tennessee, or elsewhere to receive certification in the instruction and use of Braille consistent with standards adopted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or to conduct training at various sites across North Carolina on a continuing basis.
Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.