SB265: Bill Text

SB265,9,22 (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.

SB265,9,25 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.

SB265,10,7 (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).

SB265,10,11 (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.

SB265,10,18 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:

SB265,10,20 a. Complete 40 hours of training on providing interpretation services to a client in mental health settings.

SB265,10,23 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.

SB265,10,24 c. Pass a written examination determined by the department.

SB265,11,2 d. Be able to accurately interpret specialized vocabulary used in psychiatric settings.

SB265,11,4 e. Be aware of psychopathologies, including knowledge of the names of major mental illnesses.

SB265,11,5 f. Be aware of how cultural influences might impact treatment.

SB265,11,7 g. Be aware of the difference between interpreting and communication assistance.

SB265,11,9 h. Demonstrate familiarity with mental health assessment methods and the impact of interpretation during an assessment.

SB265,11,10 i. Have exposure to mental health treatment approaches.

SB265,11,13 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.

SB265,11,15 k. Be able to identify care providers and identify mental health disciplines, and be familiar with milieus and settings.

SB265,11,16 L. Be able to explain the role of an interpreter as a professional consultant.

SB265,11,18 m. Understand professional boundaries and be able to explain confidentiality, privilege, abuse reporting requirements, and the duty to warn.

SB265,11,19 n. Demonstrate cross-cultural competencies.

SB265,17 Section 17 . 440.032 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB265,12,2 440.032 (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.

SB265,18 Section 18 . 440.032 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB265,12,9 440.032 (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:

SB265,12,10 (a) Include all of the following:

SB265,12,11 1. The interpreter's full name.

SB265,12,15 2. The interpreter's licensure category, whether sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing, sign language interpreter—advanced hearing, sign language interpreter—intermediate deaf, or sign language interpreter—advanced deaf.

SB265,12,16 3. Any applicable licensure restriction.

SB265,12,19 4. A statement whether the interpreter is authorized by the supreme court to act as a qualified interpreter in court proceedings under s. 885.38 (2) and whether that authorization is provisional.

SB265,12,20 5. Any other information required by the department.

SB265,12,23 (b) Be color-coded based on the interpreter's licensure category identified under par. (a) 2. An intermediate license shall be yellow. An advanced license shall be green.

SB265,19 Section 19 . 440.032 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

SB265,20 Section 20 . 440.032 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB265,13,4 440.032 (6m) Sign language interpreters advisory committee. (a) The secretary shall appoint an advisory committee under s. 440.042 that shall be called the sign language interpreters advisory committee. The committee shall consist of the secretary or a designee and the following 8 members:

SB265,13,8 1. Five deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are or have been clients of a sign language interpreter, at least one of whom is a graduate of a residential school for the deaf or hard of hearing and at least one of whom is a graduate of a private or public school that is not a residential school for the deaf or hard of hearing.

SB265,13,10 2. Two interpreters licensed under this section, at least one of whom holds a renewable license under sub. (3) (c) to (f).

SB265,13,13 3. One individual who is not deaf or hard of hearing and who has obtained, or represents an entity that has obtained, sign language interpreter services for the benefit of another who is deaf or hard of hearing.

SB265,13,14 (b) The committee shall do all of the following:

SB265,13,15 1. Advise the department on all of the following:

SB265,13,16 a. Matters related to the department's enforcement of this section.

SB265,13,17 b. Granting exemptions under sub. (2) (c).

SB265,13,18 c. Licensure requirements under sub. (3).

SB265,13,19 d. Promulgating the rules defining the scope of practice under sub. (4m).

SB265,13,20 e. Promulgating the rules relating to identification cards under sub. (5m).

SB265,13,21 f. Promulgating the rules governing professional conduct under sub. (7) (b).

SB265,13,22 2. Consult with the department concerning investigations under sub. (8).

SB265,13,24 (c) The committee shall submit to the secretary, upon request of the secretary not more often than annually, a report on the operation of the committee.

SB265,21 Section 21 . 440.032 (7) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB265,14,6 440.032 (7) (b) The department, after receiving advice from the committee, shall promulgate rules governing the professional conduct of individuals licensed under sub. (3). The rules shall incorporate the rules of professional conduct adopted by the National Association of the Deaf, or its successor, and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or its successor, or a substantially equivalent organization, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

SB265,22 Section 22 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB265,14,13 (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 safety and professional 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 s. 440.032 (3) (b) 1. b.

SB265,14,14 (2) Elimination of the sign language interpreter council.

SB265,14,17 (a) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the sign language interpreter council become the assets and liabilities of the department of safety and professional services.

SB265,14,20 (b) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the sign language interpreter council is transferred to the department of safety and professional services.

SB265,15,2 (c) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the sign language interpreter council in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect and are transferred to the department of safety and professional services. The department of safety and professional services shall carry out all obligations under such a contract unless modified or rescinded by the department to the extent allowed under the contract.

SB265,15,8 (d) Pending matters. Each matter pending with the sign language interpreter council on the effective date of this paragraph is transferred to the department of safety and professional services and all materials submitted to or actions taken by the sign language interpreter council with respect to the pending matter are considered as having been submitted to or taken by the department of safety and professional services.

SB265,15,15 (e) Rules and orders. All rules promulgated by the sign language interpreter council that are in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until amended or repealed by the department of safety and professional services. All orders issued by the sign language interpreter council that are in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until modified or rescinded by the department of safety and professional services.

SB265,15,24 (3) Emergency rules. The department of safety and professional services may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 necessary to implement this act. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2021, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of safety and professional services is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

SB265,23 Section 23 . Initial applicability.

SB265,16,6 (1) Restricted license renewals. The treatment of s. 440.032 (3) (b) 3. and (5) first applies retroactively to an individual holding a valid license under s. 440.032 (3) (b) 1. or 2. on August 31, 2017, and the department of safety and professional services shall provide any such individual whose license expired under s. 440.032 (3) (b) 3., 2017 stats., on September 1, 2017, with a reasonable opportunity to renew that license.

SB265,16,7 (End)