HCS HB 1036 -- ELECTRONIC VIDEO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

SPONSOR:  Kingery (Sander)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Higher
Education by a vote of 9 to 0 with 1 present.

Beginning January 1, 2007, this substitute requires closed or
open captioning on electronic video instructional materials, as
defined in the substitute, designed for use in educational
institutions.  Exceptions are made for certain materials.  If a
publisher knowingly fails to comply with the requirements, the
entity that paid for the materials may receive damages of 10
times the amount paid to have them captioned.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that even for a deaf person who has a
sign-language interpreter, signing the content of a movie in a
darkened classroom is awkward and disruptive.  Captions are
invaluable, not just for the hearing-impaired, but also for
people who are learning English and beginning readers.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Sander; Missouri
Commission for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired; Governor's Council
on Disabilities; James Jones; Brenda Muntz; Mary Stodden; and Kim
Davis.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:41 am