Amendment ASA1-AB589

LRBs0347/1

MPG:emw&kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 589

February 15, 2018 - Offered by Representative Sanfelippo.

AB589-ASA1,1,4 An Act to repeal 440.032 (3) (b) 3.; to amend 440.032 (3) (a) 1. a., 440.032 (3) (b) (title), 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. and 440.032 (5); and to create 440.032 (3) (c) and (d) of the statutes; relating to: examinations and licensure of sign language interpreters and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This substitute amendment makes all of the following changes to the laws regulating sign language interpreters:

1. Authorizes the Department of Safety and Professional Services to grant a renewable sign language interpreter license to an individual who, in addition to satisfying other requirements under current law, is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI).

2. Provides that a restricted sign language interpreter license may be renewed indefinitely. Under current law, the restricted license may only be renewed twice. The substitute amendment makes this change retroactive to an individual holding a valid restricted license on August 31, 2017.

3. Authorizes DSPS to grant a restricted sign language interpreter license to an individual who, in addition to satisfying other requirements under current law, has at least passed the basic performance examination of BEI.

4. Establishes a sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf license. DSPS must license an individual as a sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf if, among other requirements, the individual holds a high school diploma or its equivalent; the individual successfully completed at least 40 hours of a sign language interpreter training curriculum for deaf interpreters; the individual successfully completed at least 16 hours of sign language interpretation-related training approved by BEI or the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID); and the individual provides to DSPS letters of recommendation from at least two individuals who hold a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf license, a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by RID, or an equivalent certification. Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation must verify that the individual has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing sign language interpretation services provided to clients.

5. Establishes a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf license. DSPS must license an individual as a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf if, among other requirements, the individual holds at least an associate degree or satisfies an alternative pathway for education, and the individual holds a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by RID or an equivalent certification, as determined by DSPS.

6. Requires the Department of Health Services to administer the performance examinations of BEI in Wisconsin.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB589-ASA1,1 Section 1. 440.032 (3) (a) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB589-ASA1,2,4 440.032 (3) (a) 1. a. Any valid certification granted by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor, or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor.

AB589-ASA1,2 Section 2 . 440.032 (3) (b) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB589-ASA1,2,6 440.032 (3) (b) (title) Restricted renewable licenses.

AB589-ASA1,3 Section 3. 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB589-ASA1,3,2 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. The applicant is verified by the Wisconsin interpreting and transliterating assessment at level 2 or higher in both interpreting and transliterating or has passed at least the basic performance examination of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters. The department of health services shall administer in this state the performance examinations of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor.

AB589-ASA1,4 Section 4 . 440.032 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB589-ASA1,5 Section 5 . 440.032 (3) (c) and (d) of the statutes are created to read:

AB589-ASA1,3,9 440.032 (3) (c) Sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:

AB589-ASA1,3,11 1. The applicant holds a high school diploma or its equivalent, as determined by the department.

AB589-ASA1,3,14 2. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant's successful completion of at least 40 hours of a deaf interpreter training curriculum approved by the department.

AB589-ASA1,3,18 3. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant's successful completion of at least 16 hours of interpretation services-related training approved for continuing education credits by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters.

AB589-ASA1,3,21 4. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant's successful completion of American sign language linguistics I and II or substantially equivalent course work, as determined by the department.

AB589-ASA1,4,3 5. The applicant provides to the department letters of recommendation satisfactory to the department from at least 2 individuals who hold a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf license, a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or an equivalent certification as determined by the department. Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation shall verify that the applicant has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing interpretation services provided to clients.

AB589-ASA1,4,7 (d) Sign language interpreter — advanced deaf . The department shall grant a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:

AB589-ASA1,4,9 1. The applicant holds at least an associate degree or satisfies an alternative pathway for education, as determined by the department.

AB589-ASA1,4,12 2. The applicant holds a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or an equivalent certification, as determined by the department.

AB589-ASA1,6 Section 6 . 440.032 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB589-ASA1,4,20 440.032 (5) License renewal. The renewal dates for licenses granted under sub. (3) (a) are specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a) 68c. Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department and shall include the renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a) and evidence satisfactory to the department that the person's certification or membership specified in sub. (3) that is required for the license has not been revoked or invalidated.

AB589-ASA1,7 Section 7 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB589-ASA1,5,2 (1) Contract relating to administration of examinations. No later than the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection, the department of health services shall contract with the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, for the department's administration of the examinations of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters in this state under section 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. of the statutes.

AB589-ASA1,5,3 (2) Funding request for administration of examinations.

AB589-ASA1,5,8 (a) In the 2017-18 fiscal year, the department of health services may submit a request to the joint committee on finance for a specified amount of additional funding to cover one-time expenses related to the department's administration of the examinations of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, under section 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. of the statutes.

AB589-ASA1,5,16 (b) If the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the department of health services within 14 working days after the date of the submittal of the request under paragraph (a ) that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the request, the request is approved. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal of the request, the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance notify the department of health services that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the request, the request is approved only upon express approval of the committee, as submitted or as modified by the committee.

AB589-ASA1,8 Section 8. Fiscal changes.

AB589-ASA1,5,22 (1) Funding for administration of examinations. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of health services under section 20.435 (1) (a) of the statutes, the dollar amount for fiscal year 2017-18 is increased by the amount approved by the joint committee on finance under Section 7 (2) (b ) of this act for the purpose specified in Section 7 (2 ) (a) of this act.

AB589-ASA1,9 Section 9 . Initial applicability.

AB589-ASA1,6,4 (1) Restricted license renewals. The treatment of section 440.032 (3) (b) 3. and (5) of the statutes first applies retroactively to an individual holding a valid license under section 440.032 (3) (b) 1. or 2. of the statutes on August 31, 2017, and the department of safety and professional services shall provide any such individual whose license expired under section 440.032 (3) (b) 3., 2015 stats., on September 1, 2017, with a reasonable opportunity to renew that license.

AB589-ASA1,6,5 (End)