AB250: Bill Text

3. Authorizes DSPS to grant a renewable sign language interpreter license to an individual who, in addition to satisfying other requirements under current law, is certified by BEI.

4. Provides that a restricted sign language interpreter license may be renewed indefinitely. Under current law, the restricted license may be renewed only twice. The bill makes this change retroactively for an individual holding a valid restricted license on August 31, 2017.

5. 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 BEI's basic performance examination.

6. Requires DSPS to administer in Wisconsin the BEI's performance examinations.

5. Eliminates the Sign Language Interpreter Council and establishes the Sign Language Interpreters Advisory Committee, which advises DSPS and consults with DSPS concerning investigations related to sign language interpreters.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB250,1 Section 1 . 15.407 (9) of the statutes is repealed.

AB250,2 Section 2 . 440.032 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,3,4 440.032 (1) (am) “Committee” means the sign language interpreters advisory committee established under sub. (6m).

AB250,3 Section 3 . 440.032 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB250,4 Section 4 . 440.032 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,3,9 440.032 (1) (bm) “Interpreter training program” means any postsecondary educational program that prepares individuals to provide sign language interpretation services to a client.

AB250,5 Section 5 . 440.032 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB250,6 Section 6 . 440.032 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB250,3,14 440.032 (2) (c) 1. The department may grant, on a case-by-case basis, a temporary exemption from the licensure requirement under par. (a) to an individual applying for a temporary exemption, subject to the following:

AB250,4,2 a. An individual's application for a temporary exemption under this subdivision shall be in writing, shall describe the reasons why the individual cannot obtain a license under sub. (3) and describe any professional credential the individual does possess, and shall specify the dates the individual intends to provide sign language interpretation services.

AB250,4,4 b. The department shall approve or deny a temporary exemption under this subdivision within 10 business days after receiving the application.

AB250,4,7 2. The department may grant, on a case-by-case basis after receiving advice from the committee, a permanent exemption from the licensure requirement under par. (a) to an individual applying for a permanent exemption, subject to the following:

AB250,4,10 a. An individual's application for a permanent exemption under this subdivision shall describe the reasons why the individual cannot obtain a license under sub. (3).

AB250,4,13 b. If the applicant for a permanent exemption will be providing sign language interpretations services to a single client only, the individual's application shall identify that client.

AB250,7 Section 7 . 440.032 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB250,8 Section 8 . 440.032 (3) (b) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB250,4,16 440.032 (3) (b) (title) Restricted renewable licenses.

AB250,9 Section 9 . 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB250,4,23 440.032 (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, or its successor. The department shall administer in this state the performance examinations of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor.

AB250,10 Section 10 . 440.032 (3) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB250,5,6 440.032 (3) (b) 2. (intro.) The department shall grant a restricted license as a sign language interpreter, authorizing the holder to provide interpretation services only under the supervision of an interpreter licensed under par. (a) pars. (c) to (f), 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 submits evidence satisfactory to the department of all of the following:

AB250,11 Section 11 . 440.032 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB250,12 Section 12 . 440.032 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,5,13 440.032 (3) (c) Sign language interpreter— intermediate hearing licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies any of the following:

AB250,5,14 1. The applicant satisfies all of the following:

AB250,5,17 a. The applicant has received at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,5,19 b. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has successfully completed an interpreter training program.

AB250,5,23 c. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,5,24 2. The applicant satisfies all of the following:

AB250,6,2 a. The applicant earned an associate degree in sign language interpretation before the effective date of this subd. 2. a. .... [LRB inserts date].

AB250,6,6 b. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,6,7 3. The applicant satisfies all of the following:

AB250,6,13 a. Before the effective date of this subd. 3. a. .... [LRB inserts date], the applicant passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or before the effective date of this subd. 3. a. .... [LRB inserts date], the applicant passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,6,15 b. The department approves the applicant's licensure after review of all of the circumstances and receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,13 Section 13 . 440.032 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,6,21 440.032 (3) (d) Sign language interpreter— advanced hearing licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—advanced hearing 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 any of the following:

AB250,6,22 1. The applicant satisfies all of the following:

AB250,6,25 a. The applicant has received at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,7,2 b. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has successfully completed an interpreter training program.

AB250,7,8 c. The applicant has passed the advanced or master performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor; the applicant has passed the examination for and holds the national interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor; or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,7,10 2. The applicant was issued before the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], and maintains in good standing any of the following:

AB250,7,16 a. The national interpreter certification (NIC), advanced or master level national interpreter certification (NIC-Advanced or NIC-Master), certificate of interpretation (CI), certificate of transliteration (CT), comprehensive skills certificate (CSC), master comprehensive skills certificate (MCSC), interpretation certificate (IC), or transliteration certificate (TC), issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor.

AB250,7,17 b. The National Association of the Deaf III, IV, or V certification.

AB250,7,19 c. The advanced or master certification of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters or its successor.

AB250,14 Section 14 . 440.032 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,7,25 440.032 (3) (e) Sign language interpreter— intermediate deaf licenses. 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:

AB250,8,2 1. The applicant holds a high school diploma or its equivalent, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,8,5 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 after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,8,11 3. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant's successful completion of at least 16 hours of sign language interpretation services-related training approved for continuing education credits by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters or its successor, or substantially equivalent training, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,8,15 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 coursework, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,8,23 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, Inc., or its successor, or an equivalent certification, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee. Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation shall verify that the applicant has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing sign language interpretation services provided to clients.

AB250,15 Section 15 . 440.032 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,9,5 440.032 (3) (f) Sign language interpreter—advanced deaf licenses. 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:

AB250,9,8 1. The applicant holds at least an associate degree or satisfies an alternate pathway for education, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,9,12 2. The applicant holds a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor or an equivalent certification, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,16 Section 16 . 440.032 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,9,16 440.032 (4m) Scope of licenses. The department, after receiving advice from the committee, shall promulgate rules defining the scope of practice of each license granted under sub. (3), subject to the following:

AB250,9,22 (a) Sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing. 1. Subject to subd. 2., a sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing licensee may not provide sign language interpretation services to clients in any medical setting, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee, unless he or she is team interpreting with a sign language interpreter—advanced hearing or sign language interpreter—advanced deaf licensee.

AB250,9,25 2. A sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing licensee may not provide sign language interpretation services to a client in any legal or mental health setting, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,10,7 (b) Interpretation in legal settings. No sign language interpreter—advanced hearing, sign language interpreter—intermediate deaf, or sign language interpreter—advanced deaf licensee may provide sign language interpretation services to a client in any legal setting, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee, unless he or she is also authorized, including under a provisional status, by the supreme court to act as a qualified interpreter in court proceedings under s. 885.38 (2).

AB250,10,11 (c) Interpretation in mental health settings. 1. No sign language interpreter—intermediate deaf licensee may provide sign language interpretation services to a client in any mental health setting, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

AB250,10,18 2. Beginning on September 1, 2023, no sign language interpreter—advanced hearing or sign language interpreter—advanced deaf licensee may provide sign language interpretation services to a client in any mental health setting, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee, unless the licensee satisfies requirements established by the department by rule. The rules promulgated under this subdivision shall require a licensee to satisfy all of the following:

AB250,10,20 a. Complete 40 hours of training on providing interpretation services to a client in mental health settings.

AB250,10,23 b. Complete a 40-hour practicum under the supervision of a sign language interpreter approved by the department on providing sign language interpretation services to a client in mental health settings.

AB250,10,24 c. Pass a written examination determined by the department.

AB250,11,2 d. Be able to accurately interpret specialized vocabulary used in psychiatric settings.

AB250,11,4 e. Be aware of psychopathologies, including knowledge of the names of major mental illnesses.

AB250,11,5 f. Be aware of how cultural influences might impact treatment.

AB250,11,7 g. Be aware of the difference between interpreting and communication assistance.

AB250,11,9 h. Demonstrate familiarity with mental health assessment methods and the impact of interpretation during an assessment.

AB250,11,10 i. Have exposure to mental health treatment approaches.

AB250,11,13 j. Have exposure to issues involving developmental disability and the role culture and language have in providing services to a person with a developmental disability.

AB250,11,15 k. Be able to identify care providers and identify mental health disciplines, and be familiar with milieus and settings.

AB250,11,16 L. Be able to explain the role of an interpreter as a professional consultant.

AB250,11,18 m. Understand professional boundaries and be able to explain confidentiality, privilege, abuse reporting requirements, and the duty to warn.

AB250,11,19 n. Demonstrate cross-cultural competencies.

AB250,17 Section 17 . 440.032 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB250,12,2 440.032 (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.

AB250,18 Section 18 . 440.032 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB250,12,9 440.032 (5m) Identification cards. The department, after receiving advice from the committee, shall promulgate rules requiring all interpreters licensed under sub. (3) to have an identification card with them at all times while providing sign language interpretation services to clients for compensation. The department shall issue the identification card. The identification card issued to a licensee for purposes of this subsection shall satisfy all of the following conditions:

AB250,12,10 (a) Include all of the following: