Changes to Existing Law

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 pursuant to the provisions of §§ 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, $500,000 each year from the telecommunication fund for the deaf to the Department of Human Services to provide one or two cochlear implants to any child who suffers from severe to profound hearing loss and hearing aids for any child as recommend by a certified hearing audiologist. The child shall must be less than twenty-one years of age at the time of the implant or receipt of the hearing aids.

FundsMoneys appropriated pursuant to § 49-31-50 may only be used for: (1) The costs of providing a cochlear implant or hearing aids to a child who is not covered under a plan of health insurance or medicaid; or (2) Any portion of the costs of providing a cochlear implant or hearing aids to a child that is not paid by any plan of health insurance covering the child, but only for those amounts payable by the covered person under the plan's deductible and coinsurance provisions. 22