AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing children.
SB2357 creates a temporary Tennessee Council for Research of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Children, attached administratively to the Department of Health. The council would be made up of 17 appointed members representing deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, parents or guardians, educators, early intervention professionals, advocacy groups, and state agencies. Its first meeting would be called by the commissioner of health, and the council would operate under Tennessee’s open meetings and open records laws.
The council’s core job is to study how Tennessee identifies, assesses, tracks, and supports language development in deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing children from birth through age 10. It must identify the number and demographics of these children, recommend assessment tools and qualified administrators, propose language milestones and data-tracking systems, and develop reporting protocols and a parent resource guide in multimedia formats. The council must also consider compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state and federal privacy laws, then submit a final report and recommendations by July 1, 2029, after which the council is dissolved.
The bill adds a new part to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71 and creates a temporary advisory body with no direct regulatory or funding authority. Its practical legal effect is to establish a state research and recommendation framework for deaf and hard of hearing children, including guidance on assessments, data collection, parent notification, and early intervention supports. It also references and reinforces existing open government, privacy, and special education requirements, but does not itself mandate a new statewide program or change eligibility rules.
The available vote history suggests broad support, with the Senate Government Operations Committee recommending passage by an 8-0 vote. The bill’s structure as a study and recommendation measure, rather than an immediate mandate, likely contributed to its favorable reception. No committee transcript is available here, but the vote indicates little visible opposition at the committee stage.
The main policy questions likely center on how the council will define and measure language development for deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing children, especially the balance between American Sign Language and spoken English in assessments and educational practice. Another possible point of concern is the collection and reporting of sensitive child data, including race, sex, and zip code, which raises privacy and implementation issues even though the bill requires compliance with privacy laws. Stakeholders most likely to care about these issues include parents, deaf advocacy organizations, educators, audiologists, early intervention providers, and state agencies responsible for health and education.