By Mr. Sannicandro of Ashland, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 548) of Tom Sannicandro and others relative to a grant program for deaf and sign language studies in the higher education colleges of the Commonwealth.  Education.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Tom Sannicandro

Theodore C. Speliotis

Frank I. Smizik

Elizabeth A. Malia

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to deaf studies and sign language.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 6: Section 192 of the General Laws, amended by inserting after “eligibility requirements for receipt of various services” the following section:—

(A) William Hoy Council

Within the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing there shall be established the William Hoy Council for Deaf Studies and Workforce Development, hereinafter referred to as the Council.

The Council shall be comprised of the following members: the Commissioner of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing  or his designee shall be the Chair of the Council;  the Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts or his designee; the Commissioner of the Board of Higher Education or his designee; the Director of the Office of Workforce Development or his designee; the Director of the Commonwealth Corporation or his designee;  the Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf or his designee; and the Chief Executive Officer of  DEAF, Inc. or his designee.  The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall appoint a graduate student in Deaf Studies, an undergraduate student in Deaf Studies, and four to six certified American Sign Language interpreters  or certified teachers of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture at the college level.

(B)  Purpose of the Council

The council shall establish guidelines for a grant program for the establishment and continuation of new programs in Deaf Studies and American Sign Language interpreting in the Commonwealth’s community colleges and state colleges. 

Further, the council shall develop guidelines for a scholarship fund for post-secondary student matriculating in Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, and graduate students matriculating in public or private institutions of higher education located in Massachusetts.

Further, the council shall develop guidelines for a marketing and outreach program on Deaf Studies and American Sign Language interpreting targeted toward elementary and secondary education students.

The Council shall report to the Senate and House Ways and Means Committee within six months on recommendations on planning grants for community colleges to develop two year degree programs in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies in conjunction with other courses of study. The report will also make recommendations on planning grants for four year degree program in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at state colleges, guidelines on implementation grants for community and state colleges, and guidelines for marketing in elementary and secondary schools.