HOUSE BILL 178

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Brian G. Baca and James G. Townsend and Susan K. Herrera and T. Ryan Lane

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF "BILINGUAL LEARNER" TO INCLUDE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-23-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 285, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-23-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act:

          A. "bilingual learner" means a student whose bilingualism is emerging through the development of English and a language other than English, including American sign language;

          B. "bilingual multicultural education program" means a program using two languages, including English and the home or heritage language, as a medium of instruction in the teaching and learning process;

          C. "culturally and linguistically different" means students who are of a different cultural background than mainstream United States culture and whose home or heritage language, inherited from the student's family, tribe or country of origin, is a language other than English;

          D. "district" means a public school or any combination of public schools in a district;

          E. "English language learner" means a student whose first or heritage language is not English and who is unable to read, write, speak or understand English at a level comparable to grade level English proficient peers and native English speakers;

          F. "heritage language" means a language other than English that is inherited from a family, tribe, community or country of origin;

          G. "home language" means a language other than English that is the primary or heritage language spoken at home or in the community; and

          H. "standardized curriculum" means a district curriculum that is aligned with the state academic content standards, benchmarks and performance standards."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2022.

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