Maddy summaryThis bill requires Alaska public school districts to provide parents of deaf or hard-of-hearing students with unbiased information about various communication methods, such as sign language, cued speech, and listening and spoken language. It mandates that districts allow parents to choose the communication method they believe is best for their child and ensures that services are delivered by professionals trained in that specific method. Additionally, the law updates definitions for terms like "bilingual approach" and "total communication" to clarify how schools should support these students. The legislation also directs the state department to support residential programs for deaf students and outlines how school districts must manage special education responsibilities when placing students in these programs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Alaska bill establishes civil liability for defamation claims arising from the use of synthetic media, such as deepfakes, and specifically prohibits their use in electioneering communications. It allows harmed individuals to sue creators, disseminators, or those who remove required warnings for damages and attorney fees, while also permitting courts to issue injunctions to stop the publication of such content. To protect free speech, the law includes a defense for content that clearly discloses it has been manipulated or is satire or parody, and it shields internet service providers and broadcasters from liability unless they actively remove these disclosures.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates how money from Alaska's restorative justice account is distributed to various state programs and organizations. It establishes a specific order for funding, ensuring that between 10 and 13 percent goes to the crime victim compensation fund and two to six percent supports the office of victims' rights. The remaining funds are allocated to nonprofit groups providing services for crime victims and domestic violence survivors, as well as for mental health and substance abuse treatment for offenders. Additionally, the bill designates one to three percent for nonprofit grants related to offender treatment and one to three percent for the Department of Corrections to cover incarceration or probation costs.