1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; including blindness within the definition of disability; 
1.3 	directing the education commissioner to incorporate references to blindness 
1.4 	into the definition of "visually impaired" in rule;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2004, section 125A.02, subdivision 1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 125A.02, subdivision 1, is amended to 
1.8 	read:
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Child with a disability. Every child who has a hearing impairment, 
1.10 	blindness, visual disability, speech or language impairment, physical handicap, other 
1.11 	health impairment, mental handicap, emotional/behavioral disorder, specific learning 
1.12 	disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, or deaf/blind disability and 
1.13 	needs special instruction and services, as determined by the standards of the commissioner, 
1.14 	is a child with a disability. In addition, every child under age three, and at local district 
1.15 	discretion from age three to age seven, who needs special instruction and services, as 
1.16 	determined by the standards of the commissioner, because the child has a substantial delay 
1.17 	or has an identifiable physical or mental condition known to hinder normal development is 
1.18 	a child with a disability.

1.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.20 	Sec. 2. RULE ON VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO INCLUDE REFERENCES TO 
1.21 	"BLIND" AND "BLINDNESS."
 2.1 	The commissioner of education, where appropriate, must incorporate references to 
2.2 	"blind" and "blindness" into the definition of visually impaired under Minnesota Rules, 
2.3 	part 3525.1345, and amend the rule title to include the word "blind."

2.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.