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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Rodriguez DATE TYPED: 03/09/99 HB
SHORT TITLE: Sign Language as Foreign Language In Schools SB 619
ANALYST: Fernandez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 50.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



State Department of Public Education (SDE)

New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Bill 619 appropriates $50.0 to SDE to conduct a pilot program in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Gadsden School Districts offering American sign language as a foreign language elective course for high school students at one site in each school district.



Significant Issues



SDE indicates that offering American sign language as an elective course in high schools facilitates the inclusion of deaf students in general education settings by increasing the numbers of students at the high school level who can use American sign language.



New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing indicates that American sign language is common in the United States. Denying students in New Mexico from the opportunity to learn this language perpetuates the current divide between the deaf and hearing communities.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



Senate Bill 619 appropriates $50.0 to SDE for expenditure in fiscal year 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.



POSSIBLE QUESTIONS



CTF/njw