H.B. 392 Enrolled

TRAINING IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
1998 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Dave Hogue
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE TEACHING OF
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AT
LEAST AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL; AND PROVIDING THAT
A STUDENT WHO COMPLETES AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE COURSE AT THAT
LEVEL MAY COUNT IT TO SATISFY A FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
53A-13-101.5, as enacted by Chapter 52, Laws of Utah 1994
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-13-101.5 is amended to read:
53A-13-101.5. Teaching of American sign language.
(1) The Legislature recognizes that American sign language is a fully developed,
autonomous, natural language with distinct grammar, syntax, and art forms.
(2) American sign language shall be accorded equal status with other linguistic systems
in the state's public and higher education systems.
(3) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the state's school districts and
members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, shall develop and implement policies and
procedures for the teaching of American sign language in the state's public education system at
least at the middle school or high school level.
(4) A student may count credit received for completion of a course in American sign
language at the middle school or high school level towards the satisfaction of a foreign language
requirement in the public education system under rules made by the State Board of Education.
(5) The State Board of Regents, in consultation with the state's public institutions of higher
education and members of the state's deaf and hard of hearing community, shall develop and
implement policies and procedures for offering instruction in American sign language in the state's

system of higher education consistent with the master plan for higher education under Section
53B-6-101 .
(6) The Joint Liaison Committee, in consultation with members of the state's deaf and hard
of hearing community, shall review any policies and procedures developed under this section and
make recommendations to either or both boards regarding the policies.

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