| This week has
seen a little movement of a few bills that the Missouri Commission
for the Deaf (MCD) is supporting. But the legislature has been so
preoccupied with budget issues that this has reduced the time and
energy they have been able to give to other legislative issues.
This bill modifies the
definition of American Sign Language in Missouri law to recognize
that it is the “native language of many deaf Missourians.” This bill
was introduced at the request of MCD, and the executive director of
MCD testified in support of this bill at its public hearing on
1/30/02. The Senate Pensions and General Laws Committee finally
voted the bill “Do Pass” on 3/11/02. Advocates who wish to see this
bill become law should contact the chair of that committee, Senator
Chuck Gross, and urge him to report the bill out of that committee.
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