NC H840

Establishes the Educational Services for Children who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired Task Force composed of 20 members appointed equally by the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Task Force membership includes legislators, Department of Public Instruction representatives, teachers, parents, school administrators, and representatives from deaf education organizations including the North Carolina School for the Deaf, NC Association of the Deaf, Beginnings, and NC Case.

Task Force duties include serving as a resource for legislators and state agencies on deaf and hearing impaired education, and making recommendations on the continuum of educational services needed for optimal student outcomes.

Members receive subsistence and travel allowances per state law, with Legislative Services Commission approval providing staff support and meeting locations in state buildings or around the state.

Task Force must report findings and recommendations to the 2014 General Assembly by March 1, 2014 and to the 2015 General Assembly by January 15, 2015, then terminate upon filing its final report.