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Bill

PS 898

Para establecer el reconocimiento oficial de la Lengua de Señas Puertorriqueña (LSP) como la lengua natural de la comunidad sorda en Puerto Rico, establecer como política pública la garantía a la inclusión, la diversidad y el respeto a los derechos lingüísticos de todas las personas, mandatar un censo dirigido a recopilar información estadística sobre la comunidad sorda en Puerto Rico, y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico officially recognizes Puerto Rican Sign Language as the deaf community's natural language and mandates a census of deaf residents to inform inclusion and accessibility policies.

Firmado por el Presidente de la Cámara
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · PS 898

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 898 officially recognizes Puerto Rican Sign Language (LSP) as the natural language of the deaf community in Puerto Rico and establishes it as public policy to guarantee inclusion, diversity, and linguistic rights. The bill also mandates a census to gather statistical data on Puerto Rico's deaf population.

Why is this important

Official recognition of sign language creates legal standing for educational, workplace, and healthcare accommodations for deaf individuals. A census provides empirical data to inform resource allocation and targeted policy interventions for this historically underserved community.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Establishing LSP services across government, education, and healthcare systems requires significant budget allocation with unclear funding sources
  • Standardization and training: Creating qualified interpreters and educators requires infrastructure development; existing interpreter shortages may limit immediate implementation capacity
  • Scope definition: Clarity needed on which government services must provide LSP interpretation and whether private sector requirements are included

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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