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What it is

Recognition of sign languages and support for oral communication

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 16 January 2006. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Government bill recognizing Spanish sign languages and regulating means of support for oral communication for deaf persons, persons with hearing disabilities, and deafblind persons.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000073· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law recognizes Spanish sign language as the language of deaf, hearing-impaired and deafblind people in Spain who freely choose to use it, and also recognizes Catalan sign language in Catalonia. It also regulates support resources for oral communication, such as lip reading, hearing aids and subtitling.
  2. Each person has the right to freely choose between sign languages and support resources for oral communication. For minors or people under guardianship, the choice belongs to their parents or legal representatives.
  3. The law applies in five areas: goods and services open to the public, transportation, relations with public authorities, political participation, and media, telecommunications and the information society.
  4. Education authorities must make it possible to learn sign languages and the oral language in designated schools, with bilingual education models that can be freely chosen. Sign languages may also be offered as an elective subject for all students.
  5. Public authorities must promote sign language interpreter services and oral communication support resources in education, health, culture, transportation, public authorities, justice, political participation and the media, usually when requested in advance.
  6. Two centers are created: the Center for Linguistic Normalization of Spanish Sign Language and the Spanish Center for Subtitling and Audio Description. A monitoring commission is also created within the National Disability Council to oversee compliance with the law.

Who it affects

  • Deaf, hearing-impaired and deafblind people: They can freely choose to communicate in sign language or through oral communication support resources, and receive interpreters and support in public and private services.
  • Families of deaf or deafblind minors: They choose the minor's communication method and can take part in sign language learning courses.
  • Education authorities and schools: They must make it possible to learn sign languages and the oral language, and train teachers.
  • Public authorities and public administrations: They must promote interpreters and support resources in health care, transportation, justice, culture and the media.
  • Sign language interpreters and professionals: The Government will analyze their situation and the qualifications needed to practice.

Words worth knowing

Lengua de signos (sign language)
A visual, gestural and manual language traditionally used by deaf signers.
Medios de apoyo a la comunicación oral (oral communication support resources)
Codes, technological resources and technical aids that give access to the oral language, such as lip reading or subtitling.
Sordoceguera (deafblindness)
A combined impairment of sight and hearing that makes communication, information and mobility difficult.
Guía-intérprete (deafblind guide-interpreter)
A professional who acts as interpreter and guide for a deafblind person, adapting communication with their surroundings.
Educación bilingüe (bilingual education)
An educational program taught in two or more languages, here oral languages and sign languages.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced16 January 2006Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted24 January 2006The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments27 January 2006Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee6 September 2006A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenary19 June 2007All 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate28 June 2007The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE10 October 2007It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 9 official steps on a timeline
Mar 2006Jun 2006Sept 2006Dec 2006Mar 2007Jun 2007Sept 200711. 16 January 2006: Presentación22. 24 January 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Publicación desde 24/01/2006 hasta 27/01/200633. 24 January 2006: Calificación44. 27 January 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Enmiendas desde 27/01/2006 hasta 06/09/200655. 6 September 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Informe desde 06/09/2006 hasta 29/05/200766. 29 May 2007: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Dictamen desde 29/05/2007 hasta 19/06/200777. 19 June 2007: Pleno Aprobación desde 19/06/2007 hasta 28/06/200788. 28 June 2007: Senado desde 28/06/2007 hasta 10/10/200799. 10 October 2007: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 10/10/2007 hasta 12/11/2007

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Ley 27/2007, of 23 October, recognizing Spanish sign languages and regulating the means of support for oral communication of deaf persons, persons with hearing disabilities and deafblind persons.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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