Senate Bill 2777

AN ACT TO REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BLIND PERSONS' LITERACY RIGHTS AND EDUCATION ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-193, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS AND TO DEFINE ADDITIONAL TERMS USED IN THE ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-194, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS SHOULD RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FROM CERTIFIED TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-195, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE EACH APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL ENTITY TO PROVIDE FOR INSTRUCTION IN BRAILLE AND THE USE OF BRAILLE UNLESS THE IEP COMMITTEE DETERMINES, AFTER AN EVALUATION OF THE CHILD'S NEEDS, IF INSTRUCTION IN BRAILLE OR THE USE OF BRAILLE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE CHILD; TO REQUIRE ASSESSMENTS FOR STUDENTS TO INCLUDE A MINIMUM RESEARCH-BASED LEARNING MEDIA ASSESSMENT; TO PROHIBIT THE DENIAL OF INSTRUCTION IN BRAILLE TO STUDENTS WITH SOME RESIDUAL VISION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-197, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE STANDARD PROCEDURE TO BE USED BY THE IEP OR 504 TEAM THAT BRAILLE INSTRUCTION OR THE USE OF BRAILLE IS REQUIRED FOR BLIND STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE THE IEP OR 504 TEAM TO BASE ITS DECISION ON THE CURRENT ABILITY AND NEEDS AND FUTURE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WHILE CONSIDERING THE APPROPRIATE READING AND WRITING MEDIA FOR CHILDREN WITH SOME RESIDUAL VISION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-199, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE TEXTBOOK PUBLISHERS THAT SELL BOOKS TO MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FURNISH AMERICAN STANDARD CODE FOR INFORMATION INTERCHANGE (ASCII) OR OTHER ELECTRONICALLY FORMATTED FILES COMPATIBLE WITH BRAILLE CONVERSION FOR ALL BOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS FOR LITERARY AND NONLITERARY SUBJECTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE AND PUBLISH REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE CENTER; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPECIALISTS IN BRAILLE WHO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE; TO ESTABLISH THE TIME WITHIN WHICH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS TO RESPOND TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RECOGNIZE BRAILLE AND ORIENTATION MOBILITY AS CORE SUBJECT AREAS FOR ALL BLIND STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT A MINIMUM STANDARD FOR TEACHERS OF THE BLIND CERTIFIED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2010; TO ESTABLISH THE METHOD FOR DETERMINING COMPETENCY IN READING AND WRITING OF LITERARY BRAILLE AND NEMETH CODE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Hillman Terome Frazier

  Sponsor

• House of Representatives committee amendmentPending

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Feb 20 – Mar 13

1. Feb 20Referred to the Senate committee on Education
2. Mar 6Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Mar 13Committee substitute adopted in the Senate
4. Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Mar 15 – Apr 11

1. Mar 15Sent to the House
2. Mar 19Referred to the House committee on Education
3. Mar 29Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Apr 10Tabled in the House, subject to being called up again
5. Apr 11Died on the calendar in the House