AZ State Schools for the Deaf & Blind (ASDB) is at risk of permanently closing, if the AZ Senate does not act on a bill (SB2456) before March 31st.

Background

ASDB undergoes a regular and routine review by the legislature every 8 years. The “sunrise” bill - HB2456 allows ASDB to remain open for another 8 years.

House Bill (HB) 2456 passed out of the AZ House of Representatives unanimously on Feb. 21st, 2023. The bill was sent to the State Senate on the same day.

Senate President Petersen, assigned HB2456 to the Senate Government Committee.  The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hoffman, has not put HB2456 on the agenda for a vote. HB2456 has stalled in the committee, which is not typical. There are only two weeks left to vote on HB2456. If HB2456 is not voted on and passed, the bill will “die”. Then ASDB will permanently close on July 1, 2023 if nothing else is done this legislative session.

Please contact Senators Petersen and Hoffman this week to urge them to put HB2456 to a vote at the next Govt. Committee meeting (Mar. 22nd). Also, contact all of the Committee members to vote in favor of it, when it gets onto the agenda. HB2456 needs to be passed without any changes (amendments) to the bill, so that ASDB can continue as a state agency for the next eight years.

Public testimony is welcomed at the Senate Government Committee, and it should be accessible (interpreters have been requested) to those who can come either of  the next two Wednesday meetings (Mar. 22nd and 29th at 9:00AM). Watch for updates on www.azleg.gov for updates on HB 2456 on the Senate calendar agendas. Things do change quickly, so check any updates before you come to the State Capitol.

We urge the Senate Government Committee to put HB 2456 on the agenda for a vote at the next meeting. Please support HB 2456 and pass it out of the Committee with no amendment.

There are some big important reasons below:

Over 2,000 Deaf and Blind K-12 children are currently being served at ASDB. They will lose their schools and programs if the Senate does not vote on the continued mission of A.S.D.B.

The families of the Deaf and Blind children should have confidence that this critical institution and its programs will be renewed for the next 8 years.

HB2456 was passed by the House unanimously, and it should also be passed by the Senate without amendments to the original bill.

Politics should never be used against disabled children as leverage for other political or personal advantages. I urge the leadership of this committee to put HB 2456 on the agenda and vote on it as soon as possible before it is too late.

Over 550 educators, para-professionals and support staff  should be assured that they will keep their jobs and careers into the next year. If the Senate doesn’t act and forces the agency to “sunset”, hundreds of employees will lose their jobs, and they may never return to education due to the retention crisis in our state.

If ASDB were to close, statewide public school districts, charters, private, parochial and home-school programs would not be able to provide enough expert personnel with specialized knowledge, skills and language to cover the numbers of Deaf and Blind students needing future services. These students would lose the comprehensive educational services A.S.D.B. already provides them.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION (click on button on the right)

Thank you