I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3252
To amend the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 to authorize the Secretary
of Education to establish the National Junior College for Deaf and
Blind at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 8, 2001
Mr. RILEY (for himself, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. EVERETT, Mr.
ADERHOLT, Mr. CRAMER, and Mr. HILLIARD) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force
A BILL
To amend the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 to author-
ize the Secretary of Education to establish the National
Junior College for Deaf and Blind at the Alabama Insti-
tute for Deaf and Blind.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Junior Col-
lege for Deaf and Blind at the Alabama Institute for Deaf
and Blind Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The United States has low rates of college
completion by high school graduates who are deaf or
blind.
(2) Deaf or blind students who attend college
have a dropout rate in the first 2 years of college
that is approximately 4 times higher than the drop-
out rate of hearing and sighted students.
(3) The United States has a shortage of teach-
ers and service professionals trained at the associate
degree or certificate level to provide services to indi-
viduals who are deaf or blind.
(4) The United States has very limited distance
learning opportunities for individuals who are deaf
or blind.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE FOR DEAF AND BLIND.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title I of the Education of
the Deaf Act of 1986 (20 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘PART C—NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE FOR
DEAF AND BLIND
‘‘SEC. 120. PURPOSES.
‘‘The purposes of this part are the following:
‘‘(1) Easing the transition from high school to
college for students who are deaf or blind.
‘‘(2) Increasing the number of deaf or blind in-
dividuals attending and completing college.
‘‘(3) Providing a modern distance learning pro-
gram and a residential facility for postsecondary
technical training and education for individuals who
are deaf or blind.
‘‘(4) Preparing individuals who are deaf or
blind for successful employment.
‘‘(5) Training individuals to provide instruc-
tional, professional, and other services to individuals
who are deaf or blind.
‘‘SEC. 121. AGREEMENT.
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall
seek to enter into, not later than 1 year after the enact-
ment of the National Junior College for Deaf and Blind
at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Act, an
agreement with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind
for the establishment and operation (including construc-
tion and provision of equipment) of the National Junior
College for Deaf and Blind.
‘‘(b) NATIONAL MISSION ACTIVITIES.—The agree-
ment shall provide the national mission activities of
NJCDB, including the following:
‘‘(1) Maintenance and operation of exemplary
postsecondary education programs, projects, and ac-
tivities for the primary purpose of developing, evalu-
ating, and disseminating innovative curriculums, in-
structional techniques and strategies, and materials
that can be used in various educational environ-
ments to serve individuals who are deaf or blind.
‘‘(2) Addressing the specific educational, tech-
nological, and special support needs of students who
are deaf or blind.
‘‘(c) PROVISIONS OF AGREEMENT.—The agreement
shall—
‘‘(1) provide that Federal funds appropriated
for the benefit of NJCDB be used in accordance
with the applicable provisions of this Act and such
agreement;
‘‘(2) provide that NJCDB will make an annual
report to the Secretary on its operations and the na-
tional mission activities of its postsecondary edu-
cation programs;
‘‘(3) provide that in the design and construction
of any facilities, maximum attention will be given to
innovative auditory and visual devices and installa-
tions appropriate for the educational functions of
such facilities; and
‘‘(4) establish a policy of outreach and recruit-
ment to employ and advance employment of individ-
uals with disabilities, particularly individuals who
are deaf or blind, at NJCDB.
‘‘(d) MODIFICATION.—The Secretary and AIDB may
periodically modify the agreement as determined to be nec-
essary by the Secretary or AIDB.
‘‘(e) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The agreement shall
provide for the development of a scholarship pro-
gram, under which NJCDB awards scholarships to
students enrolled in its programs.
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded as schol-
arships under this section shall be used to assist in
paying the costs of attending NJCDB, including tui-
tion, fees, training courses, study, and room and
board.
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000
for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be nec-
essary thereafter to carry out this subsection.
‘‘(f) PROVISIONS REGARDING NTID.—If the Sec-
retary enters into an agreement with AIDB under this sec-
tion, the provisions of sections 202, 203, 204, 205, 206,
207, 208, and 210 shall apply to NJCDB and AIDB in
the same manner as such provisions apply to NTID and
the institution of higher education with which the Sec-