ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 4491
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Campbell)
[Passed March 8, 2006; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto
a new article, designated §18-10O-1, §18-10O-2,
§18-10O-3, §18-10O-4 and §18-10O-5, all relating to increasing
the awareness and understanding of the history and
contributions of people with disabilities in the state, nation
and world; designating the third week of October as Disability
History Week for the state of West Virginia; requiring
integration of instruction on disability history, people with
disabilities and the disability rights movement into the
existing public school curriculum; legislative findings; and
defined terms.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-10O-1, §18-10O-2,
§18-10O-3, §18-10O-4 and §18-10O-5, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10O. DISABILITY HISTORY WEEK.
§18-10O-1. Short title.
This article is known and may be cited as the "Disability
History Week Act."
§18-10O-2. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that:
(1) According to the two thousand United States Census over
four hundred thousand West Virginians have disabilities, which is
nearly twenty-four percent of the state's general population;
(2) In order to ensure the full inclusion of people with
disabilities into society, it is necessary to expand the public's
knowledge, awareness and understanding of the history of
disabilities and the disability rights movement;
(3) The disability rights movement is a civil rights movement
that is an important part of the history of this state and this
country;
(4) October is recognized nationally as Disability Awareness
Month; and
(5) By designating the third week of October as Disability
History Week, students and the public will have the opportunity to
learn about the history and contributions of people with
disabilities.
§18-10O-3. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to increase the awareness and
understanding of the history and contributions of people with
disabilities in the state, nation and world by designating the annual observance of the third week of October as Disability
History Week.
§18-10O-4. Definitions.
As used in this article the following words and phrases have
the following meanings:
(a) "Disability history" means the people, events and
timelines of the development and evolution of services to, and the
civil rights of, people with disabilities. Disability history
includes the contributions of specific people with disabilities;
and
(b) "Existing school curriculum" means all the courses and
curricula currently in place at a public school.
§18-10O-5. Disability History Week designated.
(a) The third week of October annually is designated as
Disability History Week for the state of West Virginia.
(b) In recognition of and to further the purposes of
Disability History Week, each public school shall provide
instruction on disability history, people with disabilities and the
disability rights movement. The instruction shall be integrated
into the existing school curriculum in a manner such as, but not
limited to, supplementing existing lesson plans, holding school
assemblies or providing other school activities. The instruction
may be delivered by school personnel or by guest speakers.
(c) State institutions of higher education are encouraged to
conduct and promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of disability history, people with disabilities
and the disability rights movement.
(d) The Legislature is encouraged to annually recognize
Disability History Week by introducing a concurrent resolution to:
(1) Recognize youth leaders in the disability rights movement;
(2) Reaffirm a commitment to the full inclusion of people with
disabilities in society; and
(3) Recognize the disability rights movement as an important
part of the history of this state and nation.
(e) Recognized resources for information, materials and
speakers regarding disability history, people with disabilities and
the disability rights movement
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Centers for Independent Living;
(2) The Statewide Independent Living Council;
(3) The Developmental Disabilities Council; and
(4) The State Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator.
(f) The provisions of this article are not intended to create
a burden, financial or otherwise, for public schools, teachers or
state institutions of higher education.