HB0725 Summary

• Recognizes American Sign Language (ASL) as the language of the American deaf community and authorizes schools and universities to offer ASL courses as part of their foreign language curriculum.

• Allows public and independent high schools to implement ASL courses into their foreign language programs, and permits students to satisfy foreign language graduation requirements through ASL coursework.

• Enables all Illinois public universities (University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University) to award academic credit for ASL courses and apply such credits toward foreign language degree requirements, except for major-specific language requirements.

• Authorizes community colleges to adopt regulations allowing ASL course completion to satisfy foreign language requirements for students, excluding major-specific language requirements.

• Exempts the state from providing reimbursement to schools and universities for implementing the mandate to offer ASL courses under this act.