AB621,7,17 106.52 (1) (fm) “Service animal" means a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal that is individually trained or is being trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including the work or task of guiding a person with impaired vision, alerting a person with impaired hearing who is deaf or hard of hearing to intruders or sound, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.

AB621,25 Section 25. 115.372 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,7,20 115.372 (1) (b) “Hearing impaired Deaf or hard of hearing" has the meaning given in s. 115.51 (2).

AB621,26 Section 26. 115.372 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,2 115.372 (2) The state superintendent shall seek the advice of and consult with the council on issues related to persons who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing. The state superintendent and the director of the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or their designees, shall attend meetings of the council.

AB621,27 Section 27. 115.372 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,6 115.372 (3) (b) Advise the state superintendent on such statewide services, activities, programs, investigations, and research as in its judgment will benefit pupils who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,28 Section 28. 115.372 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,10 115.372 (3) (d) Review the level and quality of services available to pupils in the state who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing and make recommendations about those services.

AB621,29 Section 29. 115.372 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,14 115.372 (3) (e) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve the preparation of teachers and other staff who provide services to pupils who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,30 Section 30. 115.372 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,18 115.372 (3) (f) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve coordination between the department and other agencies in providing services to persons who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,31 Section 31. 115.372 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,8,22 115.372 (5) The council shall have access to public files, public records, and statistics kept in the department that relate to matters concerning children who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,32 Section 32. 115.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,9,3 115.51 (2) “Hearing impaired Deaf or hard of hearing" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the state superintendent to define “hearing impairments loss" under s. 115.76 (5) (a) 2.

AB621,33 Section 33. 115.52 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,9,7 115.52 (1m) Purpose. The purpose of the program is to serve as a statewide educational resource relating to hearing impairments loss to benefit all Wisconsin children who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,34 Section 34. 115.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,9,12 115.52 (2) Governance. The state superintendent shall maintain and govern the program's facilities. The state superintendent shall appoint an individual who has training and experience in educating pupils who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing to serve as the director of the program.

AB621,35 Section 35. 115.52 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,9,15 115.52 (3) Services. (intro.) The program shall provide services that benefit children throughout the state who are hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing.

AB621,36 Section 36. 115.52 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,9,24 115.52 (3) (a) 1. `Residents 3 to 20 years old.' The program shall operate a school at which any resident of this state 3 to 20 years old who is hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing, and for the duration of a school term any resident of this state who is hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing and becomes 21 years old during that school term, shall be received and taught free of charge if the individualized education program for the resident under s. 115.787 and the educational placement under s. 115.79 specify the school operated by the program as the appropriate placement.

AB621,37 Section 37. 115.52 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,10,6 115.52 (3) (a) 2. `Residents 21 years old or older.' The state superintendent may admit to the school operated by the program a resident of the state who is hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing and is 21 years of age or older prior to the beginning of a school term upon the payment of fees fixed by the state superintendent and upon the recommendation of the secretary of health services, the director of the technical college system, or the director of the program.

AB621,38 Section 38. 115.52 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB621,10,15 115.52 (3) (a) 3. `Nonresidents.' A nonresident of this state, who is hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing, who either is 3 to 20 years old or becomes 21 years old during a school term, whose individualized education program under 20 USC 1414 (d) and educational placement specify the school operated by the program as the appropriate placement, and who is capable of receiving instruction may be received at the school upon payment in advance of the fees fixed by the state superintendent, but no nonresident may be received to the exclusion of a resident pupil.