AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 16, 2018

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

95

CHAPTER 85

Statutes of 2018

[ Approved by Governor July 9, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State July 9, 2018. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Grayson

February 16, 2018

An act to amend Section 56350 of the Education Code, relating to special education.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires local educational agencies to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. Existing law requires local educational agencies to provide opportunities for braille instruction for pupils who, due to a prognosis of visual deterioration, may be expected to have a need for braille as a reading medium. Existing law defines braille for these purposes as the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as “Standard English Braille, American Edition.”

This bill would instead define braille as the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as Unified English Braille.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 56350 of the Education Code is amended to read:

56350.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this section shall govern the construction of this article.

(a) A “functionally blind pupil” means a pupil who relies basically on senses other than vision as major channels for learning.

(b) A “pupil with low vision” means a pupil who uses vision as a channel for learning, but who may also benefit from instruction in braille.

(c) A “visually impaired pupil” means a pupil who is functionally blind or a pupil with low vision. For purposes of this article, a “visually impaired pupil” does not include a pupil who is eligible for special education and related services based on a specific learning disability identified pursuant to Section 56338.

(d) (1) “Braille” means the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as Unified English Braille.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to prohibit the use of Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation in the teaching of mathematics and science, the use of Music Braille Code, or the use of International Phonetic Alphabet Braille Code.