SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 986
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STEELMAN.
Read 1st time January 21, 2002, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4087S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 209.292, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the deaf and hard of hearing.
Section A. Section 209.292, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 209.292, to read as follows:
209.292. 1. The board shall, with the approval of the commission:
(1) Prescribe qualifications for each of the several levels of certification based on proficiency and shall evaluate and certify interpreters using such qualifications;
(2) Issue the certificates, bearing the signature of the executive director, necessary to qualify for a license to interpret;
(3) Develop a fee scale for interpreting services, pursuant to section 161.405, RSMo;
(4) Maintain the quality of interpreting services, pursuant to section 161.405, RSMo, by:
(a) Generating ideas for conducting interpreter training workshops to update knowledge and skills; and
(b) Suggesting institutions of higher education to provide interpreter training programs;
(5) Develop specific guidelines for the use of interpreters according to their level of certification and submit the guidelines to the division and copies to be distributed to state departments, agencies, commissions, courts, interpreters and to the public;
(6) Develop ethical rules of conduct to be recommended for adoption by the division;
(7) Develop fees for application, administration of an evaluation, conversion and certificate renewal, to cover the cost of the certification system and administration;
(8) Compile a statewide registry of interpreters by skill level and include recommendations relating to the appropriate selection and utilization of interpreters for the deaf. The registry shall be made available to and recommended for adoption by state commissions, departments and agencies;
(9) Develop a conversion system and policy for accepting other certification systems into the certification offered by the Missouri commission for the deaf;
(10) Develop acceptable professional development activities to maintain certification;
(11) Investigate and implement the most appropriate testing model for interpreter certification;
(12) When necessary, develop an evaluation team, appointed by the commission, to assist in evaluating interpreters;
(13) Provide opportunity to hear grievances against the certification process or one of its members using the guidelines established in chapter 621, RSMo.
2. An evaluation team appointed pursuant to subdivision (12) of subsection 1 of this section shall have similar backgrounds to the members of the board. The evaluation team shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The evaluation team [shall serve without compensation but the commission shall reimburse them] may be compensated for their service and shall be reimbursed by the commission for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. A member of an evaluation team may be removed from the team by the executive director, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, for the following reasons: misconduct, inefficiency, incompetence or neglect of official duties.