North Carolina HB 746: Schools for Deaf Standards Funds.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 
 
SESSION 1993 
 
H 1  
 
HOUSE BILL 746* 
 
 
 
 
Short Title:  Schools for Deaf Standards Funds. (Public) 
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Sponsors:  Representatives  Green;  Barnhill,  Bowman,  J.  Brown,  Cole,  Cummings,  
Cunningham,  Fitch,  Flaherty,  Fussell,  Hall,  Joye,  Luebke,  Mavretic,  Nichols,  Russell,  
Smith, Stewart, and Wainwright. 
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Referred to:  Appropriations. 
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April 6, 1993 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
1 
AN  ACT  TO  APPROPRIATE  FUNDS  TO  BRING  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  2 
SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF UP TO THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OUTLINED 3 
BY   THE   BASIC   EDUCATION   PROGRAM   AND   THE   PRESIDENTIAL   4 
COMMISSION ON EDUCATION FOR THE DEAF. 5 
Whereas,  the  1973  reorganization  of  State  government  eliminated  the  board  6 
of regents and left the North Carolina Schools for the Deaf without any effective voice 7 
to advocate for quality education programs; and 8 
Whereas,  the  North  Carolina  Schools  for  the  Deaf  have  not  been  provided  9 
funding to extend elements of the Basic Education Program to their students; and 10 
Whereas,  the  North  Carolina  Schools  for  the  Deaf  are  not  able  to  afford  11 
extended  year  programs  and  transition  programming  as  required  by  State  and  federal  12 
law; and 13 
Whereas, the emotional and mental health needs of deaf and hard of hearing 14 
children have not been addressed in an adequate and appropriate manner; and 15 
Whereas,  North  Carolina  has  not  addressed  the  recommendations  of  the  16 
Presidential Commission on Education of the Deaf; and 17 
Whereas, the 1992 Task Force on Quality Assurance for the Deaf and Hard of 18 
Hearing  provided  the  Division  of  Services  for  the  Deaf  and  Hard  of  Hearing  with  a  19 
comprehensive cradle-to-grave plan for the deaf and hard of hearing that addresses the 20 
educational needs of the deaf and hard of hearing; and 21 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 1993 
Page 2 HOUSE BILL 746* version 1  
Whereas,  two  State  audits  and  two  task  forces  have  addressed  these  same  1 
needs  over  the  last  five  years  with  similar  conclusions  and  recommendations;  Now,  2 
therefore, 3 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4 
Section  1.    There  is  appropriated  from  the  General  Fund  to  the  Division  of  5 
Services  for  the  Deaf  and  Hard  of  Hearing,  Department  of  Human  Resources,  the  sum  6 
of  three  million  five  hundred  ninety-three  thousand  eight  hundred  forty-nine  dollars  7 
($3,593,849) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of four million one hundred sixty-8 
four  thousand  seven  hundred  eighty-eight  dollars  ($4,164,788)  for  the  1994-95  fiscal  9 
year, to bring the three Schools for the Deaf up to the minimum standards required by 10 
the Basic Education Program and by the 1986 Presidential Commission on Education of 11 
the  Deaf  (COED),  as  recommended  by  the  1992  Task  Force  on  Quality  Assurance  for  12 
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's report to the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard 13 
of Hearing, Department of Human Resources. 14 
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993. 15