EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HARD OF HEARING

An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Children Education Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES ALLARD, Underwood, Johnson, Rauscher, Carrick, Eischeid, Story, Tomaszewski, Jimmie, Costello, Gray, Galvin, Schwanke, Vance, D.Nelson, McCabe, Mina, Josephson SENATORS Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Stedman, Wielechowski, Tobin, Dunbar, Yundt, Claman, Tilton, Rauscher, Stevens, Cronk, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Merrick, Olson
Last action: 2026-07-03
Official status: CHAPTER 27 SLA 26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The phrase 'maximum extent possible' is used but not defined in the text provided.

Education Rules for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

This law requires Alaska school districts to give parents neutral information about hearing technology and communication methods, let them choose the best method for their child, and ensure staff are trained in that choice.

What This Bill Does

Requires schools to share neutral facts with parents about hearing devices like cochlear implants and remote microphones.
Allows parents to pick the best way for their child to communicate, such as sign language or spoken words.
Mandates that school staff who work with these students have training in the parent's chosen communication method.
Defines specific terms like 'bilingual approach' and 'total communication' so everyone understands them clearly.
Supports state programs for deaf students, which may include living arrangements at a residential facility.

Who It Names or Affects

Public school districts in Alaska
Parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Students with hearing loss suspected by the school district

Terms To Know

Bilingual approach: Learning both American Sign Language and English reading skills.
Cued speech: Using hand shapes with mouth movements to show sounds that look alike when spoken.
Total communication: Mixing signs, speaking, reading lips, and writing to share information.

Limits and Unknowns

The law says schools must try their 'maximum extent possible' but does not define exactly what that means.
School districts only have to provide transportation for students living in the district if they run a special program.

Bill History

2026-07-03 3158
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/20/26
2026-07-03 3158
(H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/22 CH 27 SLA 26
2026-06-04 3041
(H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
2026-06-04 3041
(H) 2:45 P.M. 6/4/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
2026-05-20 2858
(S) VERSION: CSHB 39(EDC)
2026-05-20 2858
(S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT
2026-05-20 2858
(S) PASSED Y20 N-
2026-05-20 2858
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, OLSON
2026-05-20 2858
(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 39(EDC)
2026-05-19 2802
(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL
2026-05-19 2802
(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-19 2802
(S) RULES TO FIRST SUP CALENDAR 5/19/2026
2026-05-01 2435
(S) FN2: ZERO(EED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)
2026-05-01 2435
(S) NR: OLSON, STEDMAN
2026-05-01 2435
(S) DP: HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK, KIEHL
2026-05-01 2435
(S) FIN RPT 5DP 2NR
2026-04-30 Text
(S) Moved CSHB 39(EDC) Out of Committee
2026-04-30 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-04-28 Text
(S) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
2026-04-28 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-04-22 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-04-22 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-04-22 2328
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI
2026-04-20 2291
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CRONK
2026-03-20 2003
(S) YUNDT, CLAMAN, TILTON, RAUSCHER, STEVENS
2026-03-20 2003
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, STEDMAN, WIELECHOWSKI, TOBIN, DUNBAR,
2026-02-04 1601
(S) FIN
2026-02-04 1601
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-02-02 1546
(H) VERSION: CSHB 39(EDC)
2026-02-02 1546
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2026-02-02 1545
(H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE, VANCE, D.NELSON, MCCABE, MINA, JOSEPHSON
2026-02-02 1543
(H) PASSED Y40
2026-02-02 1543
(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 39(EDC)
2026-02-02 1543
(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-02-02 1543
(H) FN2: ZERO(EED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)
2026-02-02 1543
(H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING
2026-02-02 1543
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 2/2/2026
2025-05-17 1272
(H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY, GALVIN
2025-05-17 1260
(H) RETURNED TO RULES COMMITTEE
2025-05-17 1259
(H) EDC CS ADOPTED UC
2025-05-17 1259
(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
2025-05-17 1259
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2025
2025-05-09 1082
(H) COSPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI, JIMMIE, COSTELLO
2025-05-07 1053
(H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
2025-05-07 1031
(H) FN1: ZERO(EED)
2025-05-07 1031
(H) DP: SCHWANKE, UNDERWOOD, EISCHEID, DIBERT, HIMSCHOOT, STORY
2025-05-07 1031
(H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 6DP
2025-05-05 Min
(H) Minutes (HEDC)
2025-05-05 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 39(EDC) Out of Committee
2025-05-05 Text
(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
2025-04-30 Min
(H) Minutes (HEDC)
2025-04-30 Text
(H) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Invited & Public Testimony --
2025-04-30 Text
(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
2025-04-30 973
(H) COSPONSOR(S): STORY
2025-04-18 829
(H) COSPONSOR(S): EISCHEID
2025-03-21 513
(H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK
2025-02-14 188
(H) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER
2025-01-22 41
(H) EDC, FIN
2025-01-22 41
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2025-01-22 41
(H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/17/25

Official Summary Text

EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HARD OF HEARING
An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Enrolled HB 39
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
CSHB 39(EDC) _______

AN ACT

Relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

_______________

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 39

AN ACT

Relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing. 1
_______________ 2
* Section 1. AS 14.30.272 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 3
(c) A school district shall, in collaboration with the department and to the 4
maximum extent possible, 5
(1) provide a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, or who the 6
school district suspects may be deaf or hard of hearing, with comprehensive, neutral, 7
and unbiased information regarding 8
(A) hearing technology, including hearing aids, bone-anchored 9
hearing aids, cochlear implants, and remote microphone systems; 10
(B) different methods of communication for a child who is deaf 11
or hard of hearing, including listening and spoken language, a bilingual 12
approach, cued speech, and total communication; 13
(C) services and programs that are designed to meet the needs of 14
children who are deaf or hard of hearing; and 15

Enrolled HB 39 -2-
(D) support and advocacy services offered by public and private 1
agencies and other entities knowledgeable about the needs of children who are 2
deaf or hard of hearing; 3
(2) allow the parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, or who the 4
school district suspects may be deaf or hard of hearing, to choose the method of 5
communication that the parent determines is most appropriate for the child and provide 6
services using the parent's chosen method of communication for the child; and 7
(3) deliver services to a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, or who the 8
school district suspects may be deaf or hard of hearing, through professionals with 9
training, experience, and a background in the chosen method of communication. 10
(d) A school district shall inform a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of 11
hearing, or who the school district suspects may be deaf or hard of hearing, of the school 12
district's duties and of the parent's rights provided under (c) of this section. 13
(e) In this section, 14
(1) "bilingual approach" means the development of both American Sign 15
Language and English language literacy skills as a child's mode of receptive and 16
expressive communication; 17
(2) "cued speech" means a visual communication system that uses hand 18
shapes and placements in combination with the mouth movements of speech to identify 19
the phonemes of spoken language that look similar to one another; 20
(3) "deaf" means possessing hearing levels that, with or without hearing 21
technology, substantially affect a child's ability to understand spoken language; 22
(4) "hard of hearing" means possessing hearing levels that, with or 23
without hearing technology, affect a child's ability to understand spoken language; 24
(5) "listening and spoken language" means communication that focuses 25
on maximizing listening through the use of hearing technologies, professional 26
intervention, and family involvement and support to facilitate the acquisition and 27
development of the spoken language of the child's home and community; 28
(6) "total communication" means the combined use of signs, speech, 29
speechreading, auditory training, visual aids, manual gestures, and writing to convey 30
information. 31

-3- Enrolled HB 39
* Sec. 2. AS 14.30.276 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 1
(b) The department shall support one or more programs for the deaf to be made 2
available to deaf students in the state. The program may provide residential services as 3
part of its educational program in consultation and collaboration with a 4
nongovernmental organization that provides services to people who are deaf and hard 5
of hearing. If a school district operates a program, the school district shall annually 6
submit a plan of operations to the department for approval and shall perform all duties 7
of a local school district related to special education under state and federal law, except 8
that the school district is required to offer transportation only to students who reside in 9
the district. If a school district determines that placement in the program is appropriate 10
for a child who resides in the district, the school district that makes the placement retains 11
the school district's responsibilities for special education for that child under state and 12
federal law. 13