Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to create council to research language development for deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing children
Summary
Senator Massey told the committee the nine-member council, administratively attached to the Department of Health, would begin meetings on Aug. 31, 2026, and sunset July 1, 2029; its work includes language-assessment protocols and data systems to help schools plan services.
Senate amendment 014570 and the substitute language creating a Tennessee Council for Research of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Children were described to the Government Operations Committee and approved for referral to the Health Committee.
Senator Massey said the advisory council would be composed of nine members and administratively attached to the Department of Health. He said the council would begin meeting on Aug. 31, 2026, and is sunsetted July 1, 2029. The council's work would include designing language-evaluation systems for children ages 0'to'10, protocols for data reporting to families and professionals, and a data system to track demographics and outcomes. "Right now, we do not know how many deaf children we have in Tennessee," the sponsor said, noting that better data is needed for budgeting and school planning.
Committee members asked no substantive questions on the floor and the clerk recorded an 8'to'0 vote to report the bill to Health.
