BILL NUMBER: AB 2909	CHAPTERED  09/10/04

	CHAPTER  456
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2004
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 10, 2004
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 16, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 10, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 9, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 15, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 1, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 21, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 9, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 20, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salinas
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Dymally and Reyes)
   (Coauthor:  Senator Soto)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2004

   An act to add Section 95029.5 to the Government Code, relating to
early intervention services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2909, Salinas.  Early intervention services.
   Existing law, the California Early Intervention Services Act,
which is in effect only until the state terminates its participation
in Part H of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
provides for the coordination of services from various state and
local agencies for the provision of services to infants and toddlers
up to 2 years of age who have, or are at risk of having,
disabilities.  The act requires each eligible infant or toddler to
have an individualized family service plan.
   This bill would require the State Department of Education to
conduct a study of the current methods of providing special
instruction and other services to infants and toddlers who are deaf
or hard of hearing, and to report to the Legislature by January 1,
2006.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 95029.5 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   95029.5.  (a) The State Department of Education shall conduct a
study of the current methods of providing special instruction and
other services to infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of
hearing.  The study shall be funded, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, by any available federal funds administered by the State
Department of Education and shall include, but not be limited to,
all of the following:
   (1) The personnel utilized.
   (2) The varying approaches utilized in providing services to
individuals with single disabilities, as compared to the approaches
used in providing services to individuals with multiple disabilities,
including hearing impairments.
   (3) The adequacy of the resources and personnel standards.
   (4) The costs associated with ensuring that infants and toddlers
who are deaf or hard of hearing received special instruction from
credentialed teachers of the deaf.
   (b) The department shall report to the Legislature by January 1,
2006, recommendations regarding how to best provide and fund
appropriate quality services for these children.