LB839 LB839
2020 2020
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 839
Introduced by Wishart, 27; Brewer, 43; Briese, 41; Crawford, 45; DeBoer,
10; Howard, 9; Hunt, 8; Kolowski, 31; Kolterman, 24;
Linehan, 39; McDonnell, 5; Morfeld, 46; Murman, 38; Pansing Brooks, 28; Stinner, 48; Vargas, 7; Walz, 15; Williams, 36.
Read first time January 08, 2020
Committee: Education
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to deaf or hard of hearing persons; to
2 recognize American Sign Language as a distinct and separate
3 language; and to authorize schools to offer courses in American Sign
4 Language as prescribed.
5 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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LB839 LB839
2020 2020
1 Section 1. The Legislature hereby declares that American Sign
2 Language is recognized by the State of Nebraska as a distinct and
3 separate language.
4 Sec. 2. The State Board of Education may provide for the teaching
5 of American Sign Language in schools. If a school offers a course in
6 American Sign Language, such course shall be offered to all students
7 regardless of whether such student is hearing, hard of hearing, or deaf.
8 Sec. 3. Any postsecondary educational institution may offer an
9 elective course in American Sign Language. Any credits earned in a course
10 in American Sign Language at a postsecondary educational institution may
11 be treated as foreign language credits if recognized as such by the
12 postsecondary educational institution.
13 Sec. 4. The Revisor of Statutes shall assign section 2 of this act
14 to Chapter 79, article 7 and section 3 of this act to Chapter 85, article
15 9.
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