SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell released the following statement on the passage of Assembly Bill 2909 that was signed into law today by the Governor. Sponsored by Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas), AB 2909 addresses early intervention services for infants and toddlers.

"I am very pleased that the new law will look into the need for early intervention services for infants and toddlers who are hearing impaired. While I wish the state could have provided these much-needed services outright, this bill is a step in the right direction to identifying the problem. Oftentimes, the recommendations from these type of studies are used by lawmakers for future legislation.  So there is hope that all of the children will receive appropriate services in the future.

"I will direct the California Department of Education to immediately conduct a study of the current methods of providing special instruction and other services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to report our findings to the state Legislature by January 1, 2006, as required by law."