AB589,2 10Section 2. 15.407 (9) of the statutes is repealed.
AB589,3 11Section 3. 440.032 of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act .... (this
12act), is repealed.
AB589,4 13Section 4 . 440.032 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB589,4,1514 440.032 (3) (b) 3. A license granted under subd. 1. or 2. may be renewed twice
153 times and is not valid upon the expiration of the 2nd 3rd renewal period.
AB589,5 16Section 5. Chapter 471 of the statutes is created to read:
AB589,4,1717 chapter 471
AB589,4,1918 sign language interpreters
19 examining board
AB589,4,20 20471.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
AB589,4,21 21(1) “Board” means the sign language interpreters examining board.
AB589,4,23 22(1m) “Board for Evaluation of Interpreters" means the Board for Evaluation
23of Interpreters or its successor.
AB589,5,2 24(2) “Client" means a deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind individual for whom
25another individual provides interpretation services, and, to the extent the context

1requires, includes the parent or guardian of a deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind
2individual if the individual is a minor.
AB589,5,4 3(3) “Interpretation services” means any kind of sign language interpretation
4services provided to a client, whether provided by a hearing or deaf interpreter.
AB589,5,6 5(4) “Interpreter training program” means any postsecondary educational
6program that prepares individuals to perform interpretation services.
AB589,5,8 7(4m) “Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf" means the Registry of Interpreters
8for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor.
AB589,5,10 9(5) “Support service provider" means an individual who is trained to act as a
10link between an individual who is deaf-blind and that individual's environment.
AB589,5,13 11471.02 License required. (1) No individual may, for compensation, provide
12interpretation services to a client unless the individual is licensed under s. 471.04
13or is exempt from licensure.
AB589,5,20 14(2) No individual may use the title “sign language interpreter," “interpreter for
15the deaf,” “hearing interpreter,” “deaf interpreter,” “ American sign language
16interpreter,” “ASL English interpreter,” or describe or imply that he or she is an
17individual who provides interpretation services to clients, or represent himself or
18herself as an individual who provides interpretation services to clients unless the
19individual is licensed under s. 471.04 or is exempt from licensure under sub. (3) (a)
20or (b) or s. 471.03 or 471.035.
AB589,5,23 21(2m) If interpretation services are provided via live remote video conferencing,
22an individual providing interpretation services shall be licensed under this section
23if any of the following applies at the time the interpretation services are provided:
AB589,5,2424 (a) The client is located in this state.
AB589,5,2525 (b) The individual providing interpretation services is located in this state.
AB589,6,1
1(3) No license is required under this section for any of the following:
AB589,6,92 (a) An individual providing interpretation services at any school or
3school-sponsored event if the individual is licensed by the department of public
4instruction as an educational interpreter. Subject to s. 471.07 (3), the board and the
5department of public instruction shall enter into a memorandum of understanding
6defining the scope of practice of a license issued by the department of public
7instruction under this paragraph. The department, on behalf of the board, and the
8department of public instruction shall post the memorandum of understanding on
9their Internet sites.
AB589,6,1410 (b) An individual providing interpretation services at a religious service or at
11a religious function, including educational or social events sponsored by a religious
12organization. This paragraph does not apply to an individual providing
13interpretation services for a religious organization at a professional function
14provided or sponsored by the religious organization.
AB589,6,1715 (c) A support service provider providing interpretation services for the purpose
16of facilitating communication between an individual who provides interpretation
17services and a client of the individual.
AB589,6,2018 (d) An individual who, in the course of the individual's employment, provides
19interpretation services during an emergency unless the interpretation services are
20provided during a period that exceeds 24 consecutive hours.
AB589,6,23 21471.03 Temporary exemptions. The board may grant, on a case-by-case
22basis, a temporary exemption from the licensure requirement under s. 471.02 to an
23individual applying for a temporary exemption, subject to the following:
AB589,6,25 24(1) The board may not grant the same individual temporary exemptions that
25total more than 21 days in the aggregate each year.
AB589,7,5
1(2) An individual's application for a temporary exemption under this section
2shall be in writing, shall describe the reasons why the individual cannot obtain a
3license under s. 471.04 and describe any professional credential the individual does
4possess, and shall specify the dates the individual intends to provide interpretation
5services.
AB589,7,7 6(3) The board shall approve or deny a temporary exemption under this section
7within 10 business days after receiving the application.
AB589,7,10 8471.035 Permanent exemptions. The board may grant, on a case-by-case
9basis, a permanent exemption from the licensure requirements under s. 471.02 to an
10individual applying for a permanent exemption, subject to the following:
AB589,7,12 11(1) An individual's application for a permanent exemption under this section
12shall describe the reasons why the individual cannot obtain a license under s. 471.04.
AB589,7,14 13(2) If the applicant for permanent exemption will be providing interpretation
14services to a single client only, the individual's application shall identify that client.
AB589,7,16 15471.04 Licensure. The board shall grant licenses for the provision of
16interpretation services under the following license categories:
AB589,7,20 17(1) Sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing. The board shall grant
18a sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing license to an applicant who
19submits an application on a form provided by the board, pays the fee determined by
20the department under s. 440.05 (1) (a), and satisfies any of the following:
AB589,7,2121 (a) The applicant satisfies all of the following conditions:
AB589,7,2322 1. The applicant has received at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited
23college or university.
AB589,7,2524 2. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant
25has successfully completed an interpreter training program.
AB589,8,3
13. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is
2certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or the applicant has passed a
3substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the board.
AB589,8,44 (b) The applicant satisfies all of the following conditions:
AB589,8,65 1. The applicant earned an associate degree in sign language interpretation
6before the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].
AB589,8,97 2. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is
8certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or the applicant has passed a
9substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the board.
AB589,8,1010 (c) The applicant satisfies all of the following conditions:
AB589,8,1511 1. Before the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the
12applicant passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board
13for Evaluation of Interpreters, or before the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB
14inserts date], the applicant passed a substantially equivalent examination, as
15determined by the board.
AB589,8,1716 2. The board approves the applicant's licensure after review of all of the
17circumstances.
AB589,8,21 18(2) Sign language interpreter — advanced hearing. The board shall grant a
19sign language interpreter — advanced hearing license to an applicant who submits
20an application on a form provided by the board, pays the fee determined by the
21department under s. 440.05 (1) (a), and satisfies any of the following:
AB589,8,2222 (a) The applicant satisfies all of the following conditions:
AB589,8,2423 1. The applicant has received at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited
24college or university.
AB589,9,2
12. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant
2has successfully completed an interpreter training program.
AB589,9,73 3. The applicant has passed the advanced or master performance examination
4of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, the applicant has
5passed the examination for and holds the national interpreter certification issued by
6the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or the applicant has passed a substantially
7equivalent examination, as determined by the board.
AB589,9,98 (b) The applicant was issued before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB
9inserts date], and maintains in good standing any of the following:
AB589,9,1510 1. The national interpreter certification (NIC), advanced or master level
11national interpreter certification (NIC-Advance or NIC-Master), certificate of
12interpretation (CI), certificate of transliteration (CT), comprehensive skills
13certificate (CSC), master comprehensive skills certificate (MSCS), interpretation
14certificate (IC), or transliteration certificate (TC), issued by the Registry of
15Interpreters for the Deaf.
AB589,9,1616 2. The National Association of the Deaf III, IV, or V certification.
AB589,9,1817 3. The advanced or master certification of the Board for Evaluation of
18Interpreters.
AB589,9,22 19(3) Sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf. The board shall grant a
20sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf license to an applicant who submits
21an application on a form provided by the board, pays the fee determined by the
22department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:
AB589,9,2423 (a) The applicant holds a high school diploma or its equivalent, as determined
24by the board.
AB589,10,3
1(b) The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's
2successful completion of at least 40 hours of a deaf interpreter training curriculum
3approved by the board.
AB589,10,74 (c) The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's
5successful completion of at least 16 hours of interpretation services-related training
6approved for continuing education credits by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
7or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters.
AB589,10,108 (d) The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's
9successful completion of American sign language linguistics I and II or substantially
10equivalent coursework, as determined by the board.
AB589,10,1711 (e) The applicant provides to the board letters of recommendation satisfactory
12to the board from at least 2 individuals who hold a sign language interpreter —
13advanced deaf license, a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry
14of Interpreters for the Deaf, or an equivalent certification as determined by the
15board. Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation shall verify that the
16applicant has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing interpretation
17services provided to clients.
AB589,10,21 18(4) Sign language interpreter — advanced deaf. The board shall grant a sign
19language interpreter — advanced deaf license to an applicant who submits an
20application on a form provided by the board, pays the fee determined by the
21department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:
AB589,10,2322 (a) The applicant holds at least an associate degree or satisfies an alternative
23pathway for education, as determined by the board.
AB589,11,3
1(b) The applicant holds a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the
2Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or an equivalent certification, as determined by
3the board.
AB589,11,7 4471.045 Exam administration in Wisconsin. The department of health
5services shall administer in this state the performance examinations of the Board for
6Evaluation of Interpreters, unless the board approves another administrator of the
7examinations.
AB589,11,9 8471.05 Scope of license. The board shall promulgate rules defining the scope
9of practice of each license granted under s. 471.04, subject to the following:
AB589,11,14 10(1) Sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing. (a) A sign language
11interpreter — intermediate hearing licensee may not provide interpretation services
12to clients in any medical setting, as determined by the board, unless he or she is team
13interpreting with a sign language interpreter — advanced hearing or sign language
14interpreter — advanced deaf.
AB589,11,1715 (b) A sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing licensee may not
16provide interpretation services to clients in any legal or mental health setting, as
17determined by the board.
AB589,11,23 18(2) Interpretation in legal settings. No sign language interpreter —
19advanced hearing, sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf, or sign language
20interpreter — advanced deaf licensee may provide interpretation services to a client
21in any legal setting, as determined by the board, unless he or she is also certified,
22including a provisional certification, by the supreme court to act as a qualified
23interpreter in court proceedings under s. 885.38 (2).
AB589,12,3
1471.053 License renewal; continuing education. (1) The renewal date for
2a license granted under s. 471.04 is specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a) 68c., and the renewal
3fee is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).
AB589,12,8 4(2) If the initial license of an applicant for license renewal required the
5applicant to hold a certification issued by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters,
6Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or another organization, the applicant shall
7submit evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant's certification that is
8required for the license has not been revoked or invalidated or otherwise expired.
AB589,12,13 9(3) The board shall promulgate rules requiring each applicant for license
10renewal to submit to the board evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's
11completion of at least 30 hours of continuing education during the 2-year period
12immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) 68c., subject
13to the following:
AB589,12,1714 (a) For each renewal period, up to 5 hours of continuing education may be
15satisfied by community volunteering in the deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind
16community or with a professional sign language interpretation community
17organization.
AB589,12,1918 (b) For each renewal period, up to 5 hours of continuing education may be
19satisfied by mentoring, as determined by the board.
AB589,12,2320 (c) Continuing education hours earned through workshops, conferences, and
21college courses shall have been approved as continuing education by the Registry of
22Interpreters for the Deaf or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters for purposes of
23certifications issued by those entities.
AB589,13,224 (d) An applicant for renewal who obtained his or her initial license under s.
25471.04 within the 12 months immediately preceding the renewal date specified

1under s. 440.08 (2) (a) 68c. need not satisfy the continuing education requirements
2under this subsection.
AB589,13,53 (e) On a case-by-case basis, the board may grant an extension of time to satisfy,
4or a waiver of, some or all of the continuing education requirements under this
5subsection.
AB589,13,11 6471.057 Reciprocal licensure. (1) Upon application and payment of the fee
7specified in s. 440.05 (2), the board may grant the appropriate category of license
8under s. 471.04 to an individual who holds a license or other credential granted by
9a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside this state that qualifies the
10applicant to provide interpretation services to clients under that category of license
11granted by the board.
AB589,13,14 12(2) The board may enter into a reciprocal agreement with the officials of a
13jurisdiction outside this state for licensing interpreters and may grant a license to
14an individual licensed in that jurisdiction according to the terms of that agreement.
AB589,13,15 15(3) The board shall promulgate rules implementing this section.
AB589,13,20 16471.06 Identification cards. The board shall promulgate rules requiring all
17interpreters licensed under s. 471.04 to have an identification card with them at all
18times while providing interpretation services to clients for compensation. The board
19shall issue the identification card. The identification card issued to a licensee for
20purposes of this section shall satisfy all of the following conditions:
AB589,13,21 21(1) Include all of the following:
AB589,13,2222 (a) The interpreter's full name.
AB589,13,2523 (b) The interpreter's licensure category, whether sign language interpreter —
24intermediate hearing, sign language interpreter — advanced hearing, sign language
25interpreter — intermediate deaf, or sign language interpreter — advanced deaf.
AB589,14,1
1(c) Any applicable licensure restriction.
AB589,14,42 (d) A statement whether the interpreter is certified by the supreme court to act
3as a qualified interpreter in court proceedings under s. 885.38 (2) and whether that
4certification is provisional.
AB589,14,55 (e) Any other information required by the board.
AB589,14,8 6(2) Be color-coded based on the interpreter's licensure category identified
7under sub. (1) (b). An intermediate license shall be yellow. An advanced license shall
8be green.
AB589,14,12 9471.065 Professional conduct. The board shall promulgate rules governing
10the professional conduct of individuals licensed under s. 471.04. The rules shall
11incorporate the rules of professional conduct adopted by the National Association of
12the Deaf, or its successor, and Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
AB589,14,15 13471.07 Memorandum of understanding advisory committee. (1) In this
14section, “memorandum of understanding” means the memorandum of
15understanding established under s. 471.02 (3) (a).
AB589,14,17 16(2) The secretary shall appoint a committee under s. 440.042, consisting of the
17following members:
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