Substitute House Bill No. 5241 (sHB5241 File No. 269) proposes the creation of a Bureau of Services for Persons Who Are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind within the Department of Aging and Disability Services, to be effective from July 1, 2024. The bill outlines the appointment of an executive director by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, who must have relevant professional experience and proficiency in American Sign Language, as well as familiarity with deafblind interpretation methods. The executive director will have a range of responsibilities, including overseeing counseling and interpreting services, updating resource guides, coordinating with state agencies, and filing an annual report on the bureau's activities and service improvement recommendations. The bill also calls for the establishment of an Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind, which will be responsible for advising on state policies, monitoring services, and organizing an annual leadership roundtable meeting.

The bill includes both insertions and deletions to the current law. It expands the membership of the Advisory Board, changes the qualifications for chairpersons, and increases the quorum requirement. The bill also has a fiscal impact, with costs associated with hiring new staff for the Bureau, including an executive director, an administrative assistant, interpreters, and additional operational expenses. The bill requires state agencies to appoint a point of contact for concerns related to the deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind community and mandates collaboration with the executive director of the Bureau to address these concerns. The bill's provisions are set to take effect on two dates: the establishment of the bureau on July 1, 2024, and other provisions on October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
HS Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 269: