The proposed bill establishes the Language Acquisition Grant Program, which will provide grants to listening and spoken language providers that offer auditory verbal services to infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing, as defined in the new section 41-2023 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. This program will be funded by appropriations from the legislature, and the Department of Economic Security (DES) will be responsible for administering the program by contracting with eligible providers. The bill also allows DES to adopt necessary rules, policies, and procedures to effectively implement the program.

Additionally, the bill mandates that early intervention programs refer eligible families with children identified as deaf or hard of hearing to both qualified providers within the grant program and the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind for visual language education. The contractors providing auditory verbal services must ensure that these services are administered or overseen by certified educators or therapists in various settings, including natural environments and virtually. This update aims to enhance support for families and improve access to essential services for children with hearing impairments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-2023
House Engrossed Version: 41-2023