ASDB’s future hangs in balance on two separate funding proposals
Here are updates on the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB)’s struggle to get a funding extension.
Arizona has a law that requires state agencies, which includes ASDB, to face automatic termination every decade unless they pass performance audits and get the approval of state lawmakers for funding extensions. The extensions usually last 8 years. ASDB has always gotten the extensions. Its current funding expires in July. ASDB’s latest audit, a “sunset audit,” showed that there were no major issues with the school.
In February, the Arizona House of Representatives passed an 8-year funding bill for ASDB. But the Senate didn’t immediately take up the bill.
A few weeks ago Republican Sen. Justine Wadsack proposed a bill that would change ASDB to make it open to all students with disabilities, not just for deaf and blind students. School administrators, the Arizona Association of the Deaf (AZAD), and the NAD pushed back and the proposal was withdrawn.
Republican leaders on two different Senate Committees made their own separate proposals for a funding extension that would keep the school the same, but shorten its normal 8-year cycle. One proposal is for two years and the other is for five years.
On March 29, the two Senate committees held hearings on ASDB’s funding extension. The first is the Senate Government Committee, which met in the morning, and the second is the Senate Education Committee, which met in the afternoon.
Many from the ASDB community, including Oscar-winning actor Troy Kotsur and ASDB Superintendent Annette Reichman, attended both hearings and gave testimony urging senators to fund the school for 8 years. The Arizona Mirror and AZCentral did news reports on the hearings.
Chairman Hoffman of the Senate Government Committee said he would only consider a two-year extension. He said he wants the legislature to have a “hands-on” approach to the school.
ASDB Superintendent Annette Reichman told the Government Committee that she is really puzzled. See this video clip from the hearing.
[Video clip] Credit: ACTV
Reichman: This is the first time in ASDB’s 112 years of history that we are getting this line of questioning. We are genuinely puzzled.
Alex: Kotsur urged the committee to leave the 8-year extension alone.
[Video clip] Credit: ACTV
Kotsur: Another eight years. Don’t set the students up for failure. I know that’s not your intention. Local school districts are not equipped nor prepared to serve about 85% of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and visually impaired. ASDB is serving them right now. Please, let’s all work together.
Alex: Democrats on the Government Committee moved to vote on an 8-year extension but all Republicans voted against it. The committee then passed the proposal with a two-year extension.
The Arizona Mirror said two Democratic senators on the committee said they voted “yes” but are in disagreement. They voted so the bill would move on.
That two-year extension bill, HB 2456, has moved out of committee.
The AZAD said if this two-year extension becomes law, it means that ASDB has to go through another “sunset audit” and start all over again with the legislature in January 2025.
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On the afternoon of March 29, the Senate Education Committee had a hearing to consider the five-year extension proposal. Its Republican Chairman Ken Bennett said he made this proposal because he wasn’t sure if the 8-year continuation bill would be heard. He said he suggested five years as a compromise between eight years and two years.
Reichman, Kotsur, and others from the ASDB community gave testimony to the committee.
Democrats on that committee moved to vote on the original bill (8-year extension), but it failed when all Republicans voted against it. The five-year extension proposal passed out of the committee. It was a somewhat similar process to the morning committee. That five-year extension bill, HB 2291, moved out of committee.
The AZAD said both bills have cleared the Senate Rules Committee but they don’t know which bill will go to the full Senate for a vote. The Republican majority leader of the Senate, Warren Petersen, will make the final decision on which bill, the two-year extension or the five-year extension.
The Arizona Senate Democratic Caucus posted a joint video on Twitter in support of the ASDB. Here are two clips.
[Video clip, Credit: @AZSenateDems]
Sen. Juan Mendez: Hi, Arizona. Today in our Senate government committee, Senator Jake Hoffman showed this nation that discrimination against those with disabilities, specifically the deaf and the blind, is alive and well in Arizona.
Sen. Priya Sundareshan: Senator Hoffman’s decision was made without the input of subject matter experts (at) ASDB, advocates or community members.
Alex: Kotsur also posted a video message after the hearings last week. Here is a clip.
[Clip] Credit: Troy Kotsur
Kotsur: “By reducing the funding period for two years would be such a waste of precious time, money and resources… Yes there doesn’t seem like there’s a reason for imposing all this additional bureaucracy and hardship upon them therefore please fund and support ASDB for a firm time period of eight years. Please save our precious Deaf and Blind children’s lives with this gift of language…”
Alex: The AZAD said they are hoping for the five-year bill to go to the whole Senate and are hoping for the possibility that senators will amend it to restore the funding extension to 8 years.
https://www.azmirror.com/2023/03/29/dueling-bills-aim-to-allow-the-az-school-for-the-deaf-and-blind-to-remain-open/
AZAD: https://www.facebook.com/azadincorg/
Sen Dems: https://twitter.com/AZSenateDems/status/1641214157730217984
Committee Videos:
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2023031129
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2023031137
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