CA AB2072

State Department of Education must develop an unbiased, comprehensive informational pamphlet for parents of newborns and infants identified as deaf or hard of hearing covering communication and language options including American Sign Language and Listening and Spoken Language.

Audiologists must provide the pamphlet immediately upon identification of hearing loss and note receipt in the child's record, while Early Start Program providers must provide it upon initial contact with parents.

Creates an advisory stakeholder panel of 15 members including deaf and hard of hearing adults, educators, parents, researchers, and medical professionals to develop and revise the pamphlet biennially until January 1, 2017.

Pamphlet must be made available in Cantonese, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and on the department's website with an ASL video version with English captioning.

Implementation is contingent on donations to the Language and Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Fund reaching sufficient levels as determined by the Director of Finance, with no state funds permitted for implementation.