SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 118
Amendment No. ___ Barcode 523356
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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04/30/2003 11:50 AM .
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11 Senator Fasano moved the following amendment:
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13 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
14 On page 5, between lines 8 and 9,
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16 insert:
17 Section 5. Florida Council on Deafness.--
18 (1)(a) There is established the Florida Council on
19 Deafness. The council is assigned to the Department of
20 Education for administrative and fiscal purposes, but it shall
21 otherwise function independently of the control, supervision,
22 and direction of the Department of Education.
23 (b) The council shall consist of nine members
24 appointed by the Governor, after consultation with statewide
25 not-for-profit professional organizations that represent deaf,
26 hard-of-hearing, and late-deafened individuals. The members of
27 the council must be confirmed by the Senate. The Governor
28 shall make appointments to the council no later than July 1,
29 2003. Each member shall be appointed to a term of 4 years;
30 however, for the purpose of providing staggered terms, of the
31 initial appointments, five members shall be appointed to a
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 118
Amendment No. ___ Barcode 523356
1 2-year term and four members shall be appointed to a 4-year
2 term. Any vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same
3 manner as the original appointment, and any member appointed
4 to fill a vacancy occurring because of death, resignation, or
5 ineligibility for membership shall serve only for the
6 unexpired term of the member's predecessor.
7 (c) The first meeting of the council shall be held no
8 later than August 1, 2003. The council members, at the
9 organizational meeting, shall elect by a majority vote of the
10 members one member to serve as chair of the council for a term
11 of 1 year. The council shall meet at least once each quarter.
12 All meetings are subject to the call of the chair. Five
13 members of the council shall constitute a quorum.
14 (d) Members of the council shall serve without
15 compensation but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel
16 expenses pursuant to section 112.061, Florida Statutes.
17 (e) Staff of the Department of Education shall be
18 assigned by the Commissioner of Education to assist the
19 council in the duties assigned to it by this section.
20 (2) It shall be the role of the council to serve as an
21 advisory and coordinating body in the state which recommends
22 policies that address the needs of deaf, hard-of-hearing, and
23 late-deafened persons and which recommends methods that
24 improve the coordination of services among the public and
25 private entities that provide services to deaf,
26 hard-of-hearing, and late-deafened persons. The council is
27 authorized to provide technical assistance, advocacy, and
28 education. To that end, the council shall:
29 (a) Provide information and assistance to the
30 Legislature.
31 (b) Provide technical assistance to other state
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 118
Amendment No. ___ Barcode 523356
1 agencies.
2 (c) Provide information and referral services.
3 (d) Promote public and individual advocacy for deaf,
4 hard-of-hearing, and late-deafened citizens.
5 (e) Conduct public hearings as needed.
6 (3) The council shall prepare a report, which shall be
7 filed with the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
8 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice
9 of the Supreme Court by January 1, 2004, which shall include:
10 (a) A review of state agencies to determine if they
11 are in compliance with accessibility standards as they relate
12 to services for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and late-deafened
13 individuals.
14 (b) A review of federal and state statutes, rules, and
15 regulations that establish requirements that agencies must
16 comply with, including, but not limited to, equipment and
17 communication accessibility standards in the provision of
18 services to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and late-deafened
19 individuals.
20 (c) A comparison of the licensure and accreditation
21 requirements for sign-language interpreters, oral
22 interpreters, and entities providing services, both directly
23 and indirectly, to individuals with hearing loss among the 10
24 most populous states.
25 (d) Recommendations for standards for and licensure of
26 sign-language interpreters and providers of Computer-Aided
27 Real-time Translation services (CART) and other service
28 provider accreditation standards.
29 (4) The council may:
30 (a) Secure assistance from all state departments and
31 agencies in order to avail itself of expertise at minimal
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 118
Amendment No. ___ Barcode 523356
1 cost.
2 (b) Obtain information and assistance from the state
3 or any political subdivision, municipal corporation, public
4 officer, or governmental department or agency thereof.
5 (c) Apply for and accept funds, grants, gifts, and
6 services from local or state government or the Federal
7 Government, or from any of their agencies, or any other public
8 or private source and may use funds for the purposes
9 authorized by this section.
10 (5) All executive branch state agencies are
11 instructed, and all other state agencies are requested, to aid
12 and assist the council in the accomplishment of its purposes.
13 (6) Nothing in this act is intended to or shall be
14 interpreted as extending the duties or responsibilities of the
15 council to any program, service, or activity that is subject
16 to the jurisdiction or oversight of the Public Service
17 Commission.
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19 (Redesignate subsequent sections.)
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22 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ===============
23 And the title is amended as follows:
24 On page 1, line 8, after the second semicolon,
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26 insert:
27 creating the Florida Council on Deafness;
28 providing membership and organization of the
29 council; providing role, purpose, powers,
30 duties, and responsibilities of the council;
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