TJD:amn
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
November 20, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Skowronski,
Brostoff, Mursau, Anderson, Bowen, Dittrich, Emerson, Knodl, Krug,
Milroy, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Subeck, Tusler, Vruwink and C. Taylor,
cosponsored by Senators Marklein, Larson and L. Taylor. Referred to
Committee on State Affairs.
AB621,2,2 1An Act to amend 15.377 (2) (intro.), 15.377 (2) (a), 15.377 (2) (b), 15.377 (2) (f),
220.255 (1) (d), 20.435 (1) (da), 20.435 (1) (hs), 20.866 (2) (zh), 46.295 (title),
346.295 (1), 46.295 (4) (intro.), 46.295 (4) (a), 46.295 (4) (b), 46.295 (5), 46.297
4(title), 46.297 (1), 46.297 (2) (a), 46.298, 51.05 (6), 51.42 (7) (a) 6. a., 51.42 (7)
5(a) 6. b., 59.54 (5), 101.13 (1), 106.52 (1) (fm), 115.372 (1) (b), 115.372 (2), 115.372
6(3) (b), 115.372 (3) (d), 115.372 (3) (e), 115.372 (3) (f), 115.372 (5), 115.51 (2),
7115.52 (1m), 115.52 (2), 115.52 (3) (intro.), 115.52 (3) (a) 1., 115.52 (3) (a) 2.,
8115.52 (3) (a) 3., 115.52 (3) (b) 4., 115.52 (3) (b) 5., 115.52 (3) (b) 6., 115.52 (3) (b)
98., 115.52 (3) (b) 11., 115.52 (3) (b) 12., 115.52 (3) (c) 1., 115.52 (3) (c) 2., 115.52
10(3) (c) 3., 115.53 (5), 115.54, 115.76 (5) (a) 2., 115.787 (3) (b) 4., 118.255 (1) (a),
11459.01 (2), 459.01 (5), 459.10 (1) (q), 459.20 (3g), 459.20 (3p), 459.34 (2) (i),
12632.895 (16) (a) 2., 632.895 (16) (b) 1. a., 885.37 (1), 885.37 (3) (b), 885.37 (5) (b),

1905.015 (title) and 905.015 (1) of the statutes; relating to: changing
2terminology for hearing loss and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill substitutes the terms “hearing loss” and “deaf or hard of hearing” for
the phrases “hearing impaired” and “hearing impairment” in the statutes.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB621,1 3Section 1. 15.377 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,2,84 15.377 (2) Deaf and hard-of-hearing education council. (intro.) There is
5created a deaf and hard-of-hearing education council in the department of public
6instruction. The council shall consist of the following members, at least 3 of whom
7must be hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing, appointed by the state
8superintendent of public instruction for 3-year terms:
AB621,2 9Section 2. 15.377 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,2,1010 15.377 (2) (a) Two parents of children who are have hearing impaired loss.
AB621,3 11Section 3. 15.377 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,2,1312 15.377 (2) (b) One licensed teacher of pupils who are have hearing impaired
13loss.
AB621,4 14Section 4. 15.377 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,2,1715 15.377 (2) (f) One person who is experienced in educating the individuals with
16hearing impaired loss, or in educating teachers of the individuals with hearing
17impaired loss, and is affiliated with an institution of higher education.
AB621,5 18Section 5. 20.255 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,3,519 20.255 (1) (d) Principal repayment and interest. A sum sufficient to reimburse
20s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the payment of principal and interest costs incurred in financing

1the acquisition, construction, development, enlargement or improvement of
2institutional facilities for individuals with hearing impairments loss under s. 115.52,
3individuals with visual impairments under s. 115.525, and resources for libraries
4and lifelong learning service facilities under s. 43.05 (11) and to make payments
5under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).
AB621,6 6Section 6. 20.435 (1) (da) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,3,117 20.435 (1) (da) Interpreter services and telecommunication aid for the hearing
8impaired
deaf and hard of hearing. The amounts in the schedule to provide
9interpreter services for hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
10under s. 46.295 (1) and assistance under the telecommunication assistance program
11for the hearing impaired deaf and hard of hearing under s. 46.297.
AB621,7 12Section 7. 20.435 (1) (hs) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,3,1613 20.435 (1) (hs) Interpreter services for hearing impaired the deaf and hard of
14hearing
. The amounts in the schedule for interpreter services for hearing-impaired
15persons who are deaf or hard of hearing under s. 46.295 (1). All moneys received from
16fees charged for the interpreter services shall be credited to this appropriation.
AB621,8 17Section 8. 20.866 (2) (zh) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,3,2418 20.866 (2) (zh) Public instruction; state school, state center and library
19facilities.
From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department
20of public instruction to acquire, construct, develop, enlarge, or improve institutional
21facilities for individuals with hearing impairments loss and individuals with visual
22impairments and resources for libraries and lifelong learning service facilities. The
23state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $12,350,600 for this
24purpose.
AB621,9 25Section 9. 46.295 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,4,2
146.295 (title) Interpreters for the hearing-impaired deaf and hard of
2hearing
.
AB621,10 3Section 10. 46.295 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,4,84 46.295 (1) The department may, on the request of any hearing-impaired
5person who is deaf or hard of hearing, city, village, town, or county or private agency,
6provide funds from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (1) (da) and (hs) to
7reimburse interpreters for hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or hard of
8hearing
for the provision of interpreter services.
AB621,11 9Section 11. 46.295 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,4,1110 46.295 (4) (intro.) The department may use as an interpreter for
11hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or hard of hearing only the following:
AB621,12 12Section 12. 46.295 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,4,1413 46.295 (4) (a) An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or
14hard of hearing
who is certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf.
AB621,13 15Section 13. 46.295 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,4,1816 46.295 (4) (b) If an interpreter under par. (a) is unavailable, an interpreter for
17hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or hard of hearing whose qualifications have
18been determined appropriate by the department.
AB621,14 19Section 14. 46.295 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,5,220 46.295 (5) The department may bill any public or private agency at the rates
21established by the department for interpreter services for hearing-impaired persons
22who are deaf or hard of hearing commensurate with the certification or qualification
23level of the interpreter providing services if the department determines that the
24agency is required under state or federal law to provide interpreter services to a

1hearing-impaired person who is deaf or hard of hearing or if the agency agrees to pay
2for the services.
AB621,15 3Section 15. 46.297 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,5,5 446.297 (title) Telecommunication aid for the hearing impaired deaf or
5hard of hearing
.
AB621,16 6Section 16. 46.297 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,5,127 46.297 (1) Assistance. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (da), the
8department shall, subject to the availability of funds, provide assistance to
9hearing-impaired persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to secure
10telecommunication devices capable of serving their needs. Except in extraordinary
11circumstances, the department shall purchase or provide funds for the purchase of
12telecommunication devices.
AB621,17 13Section 17. 46.297 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,5,1614 46.297 (2) (a) The person is certified as deaf or severely having severe hearing
15impaired loss by a physician, an audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459 or the
16department.
AB621,18 17Section 18. 46.298 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,6,3 1846.298 Vehicle sticker for the deaf or hard of hearing impaired. Upon
19the request of a person who is certified as having a hearing impaired loss by the
20department, by a physician, by a hearing instrument specialist licensed under subch.
21I of ch. 459 or by an audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459, the department
22shall issue to the person a decal or sticker for display on a motor vehicle owned or
23frequently operated by the person to apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that
24the vehicle is owned or operated by a hearing-impaired person who has a hearing
25loss
. No charge shall be made for issuance of the decal or sticker. The department

1shall specify the design of the decal or sticker. The department shall designate the
2location on the vehicle at which the decal or sticker shall be affixed by its own
3adhesive.
AB621,19 4Section 19. 51.05 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,6,85 51.05 (6) Hearing-impaired Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. The
6department shall provide mental health services appropriate for hearing-impaired
7individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and who are residents of or are
8committed, admitted or transferred to a mental health institute.
AB621,20 9Section 20. 51.42 (7) (a) 6. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,6,1210 51.42 (7) (a) 6. a. Mental health outpatient and follow-up services appropriate
11for hearing-impaired mentally ill individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing,
12including advocacy training relating to the rights of mentally ill individuals.
AB621,21 13Section 21. 51.42 (7) (a) 6. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,6,1614 51.42 (7) (a) 6. b. Technical assistance to a county department of community
15programs concerning provision of services to hearing-impaired mentally ill
16individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,22 17Section 22. 59.54 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,7,218 59.54 (5) Emergency services for persons with a hearing loss and speech
19impaired persons.
In any county having a population of 200,000 or more the board
20shall install in the sheriff's department a teletypewriter which shall be available to
21receive calls from hearing and persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and speech
22impaired persons seeking emergency services. In cities having a population of
2330,000 or more which are not contained in a county having a population of 200,000
24or more, the city shall install a teletypewriter for the purposes of this subsection in
25either the police or fire department. If 2 or more cities having a population of 30,000

1or more are contained in one county, the board shall install the teletypewriter in the
2sheriff's department and no teletypewriter shall be required in the cities.
AB621,23 3Section 23. 101.13 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,7,104 101.13 (1) In this section, “access" means the physical characteristics of a place
5which allow persons with functional limitations caused by impairments of sight,
6hearing, coordination, or perception, persons with a hearing loss, or persons with
7semiambulatory or nonambulatory disabilities to enter, circulate within and leave
8a place of employment or public building and to use the public toilet facilities and
9passenger elevators in the place of employment or public building without
10assistance.
AB621,24 11Section 24. 106.52 (1) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,7,1712 106.52 (1) (fm) “Service animal" means a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal
13that is individually trained or is being trained to do work or perform tasks for the
14benefit of a person with a disability, including the work or task of guiding a person
15with impaired vision, alerting a person with impaired hearing who is deaf or hard
16of hearing
to intruders or sound, providing minimal protection or rescue work,
17pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
AB621,25 18Section 25. 115.372 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,7,2019 115.372 (1) (b) “Hearing impaired Deaf or hard of hearing" has the meaning
20given in s. 115.51 (2).
AB621,26 21Section 26. 115.372 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,222 115.372 (2) The state superintendent shall seek the advice of and consult with
23the council on issues related to persons who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of
24hearing
. The state superintendent and the director of the Wisconsin Educational

1Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or their designees, shall attend
2meetings of the council.
AB621,27 3Section 27. 115.372 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,64 115.372 (3) (b) Advise the state superintendent on such statewide services,
5activities, programs, investigations, and research as in its judgment will benefit
6pupils who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,28 7Section 28. 115.372 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,108 115.372 (3) (d) Review the level and quality of services available to pupils in
9the state who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing and make
10recommendations about those services.
AB621,29 11Section 29. 115.372 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,1412 115.372 (3) (e) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve the
13preparation of teachers and other staff who provide services to pupils who are
14hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,30 15Section 30. 115.372 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,1816 115.372 (3) (f) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve
17coordination between the department and other agencies in providing services to
18persons who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,31 19Section 31. 115.372 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,8,2220 115.372 (5) The council shall have access to public files, public records, and
21statistics kept in the department that relate to matters concerning children who are
22hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,32 23Section 32. 115.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,9,3
1115.51 (2)Hearing impaired Deaf or hard of hearing" has the meaning given
2in the rules promulgated by the state superintendent to define “hearing impairments
3loss" under s. 115.76 (5) (a) 2.
AB621,33 4Section 33. 115.52 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,9,75 115.52 (1m) Purpose. The purpose of the program is to serve as a statewide
6educational resource relating to hearing impairments loss to benefit all Wisconsin
7children who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,34 8Section 34. 115.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,9,129 115.52 (2) Governance. The state superintendent shall maintain and govern
10the program's facilities. The state superintendent shall appoint an individual who
11has training and experience in educating pupils who are hearing impaired deaf or
12hard of hearing
to serve as the director of the program.
AB621,35 13Section 35. 115.52 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,9,1514 115.52 (3) Services. (intro.) The program shall provide services that benefit
15children throughout the state who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.
AB621,36 16Section 36. 115.52 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
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