1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to children; establishing recognition of 
  1.3             American sign language; proposing coding for new law 
  1.4             in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 126; and 135A. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE RECOGNIZED AS A WORLD 
  1.7   LANGUAGE.] 
  1.8      The Minnesota state legislature recognizes American sign 
  1.9   language as a fully developed, autonomous, natural language with 
  1.10  distinct grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural heritage 
  1.11  which is used by a variety of deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind 
  1.12  and hearing individuals in the United States, and hereby 
  1.13  determines that American sign language should be accorded equal 
  1.14  status with other linguistic systems in the state's public 
  1.15  elementary and secondary and higher education systems. 
  1.16     Sec. 2.  [126.256] [AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.] 
  1.17     Satisfactory completion of courses in American sign 
  1.18  language in a public elementary or secondary school shall be 
  1.19  accorded equal standing with satisfactory completion of courses 
  1.20  in any world language. 
  1.21     Sec. 3.  [135A.121] [AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.] 
  1.22     The Minnesota state colleges and universities, the 
  1.23  University of Minnesota, and Minnesota private colleges are 
  1.24  requested to accord equal standing to courses in American sign 
  1.25  language as is given to any world language for admission and 
  2.1   graduation requirements.