CHAPTER 268

(HB 1250)

Cochlear implant availability revised.

         ENTITLED, An Act to  revise the process regarding cochlear implants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

     Section  1.  That § 49-31-50 be amended to read as follows:

     49-31-50.   There is created in the state treasury the telecommunication fund for the deaf and the telecommunication fund for other disabilities for the deposit and disbursement of money collected under § §  49-31-49 and 49-31-51. There is hereby continuously appropriated the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, each year from the telecommunication fund for the deaf to the Department of Human Services to provide one or two cochlear implants to children who are less than five years of age and who suffer any child who suffers from severe to profound hearing loss. The child shall be less than five years of age at the time of the first implant. However, if the child has a documented progressive hearing loss that leads to deafness after speech and language are developed, the child may be less than twenty-one years of age at the time of the implant.

     Signed March 5, 2007

_______________