Licensing sign language interpreters, creating an evidentiary privilege for communications with those interpreters, creating a Sign Language Interpreter Council, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under this bill, no person may provide, for compensation, sign language interpretation services for a deaf or hard of hearing client unless the person holds a license granted by the Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL). The bill exempts all of the following from the licensure requirement: 1) a person interpreting in a court proceeding, if the person is certified by the Wisconsin Supreme Court; 2) a person interpreting at a school or school-sponsored event, if the person is certified by the Department of Public Instruction; 3) a person interpreting at a religious service or religious function; 4) a support service provider facilitating communication between an interpreter and an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and 5) a person interpreting in the course of employment during an emergency, for up to 24 hours.

The bill creates two types of licenses, renewable and restricted. An applicant for a renewable license must have received an associate degree in sign language interpretation or completed an education and training program in such interpretation and must have a certification from a private body specified in the bill, except that the bill does not require the degree or completion of the training program if the applicant is deaf or hard of hearing. An applicant for a restricted license, which may be renewed only twice, must have received an associate degree or completed an education and training program, must have received a specified score on an examination administered by the Department of Health Services, must have passed a written examination administered by a specified private body, and must be a student or associate member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. An applicant for a restricted license who is deaf or hard of hearing must have completed a lesser level of training, including at least 40 hours of mentoring under a nationally certified interpreter, must be a student or associate member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., and must have a high school diploma or an equivalent, but such an applicant, once licensed, may provide interpretation services only under the supervision of an interpreter who holds a renewable license.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its authors⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DHS
• Fiscal Estimate From DORL
• Fiscal Estimate From DORL (Updated)

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment AA1-SB389
• Amendment AA2-SB389
• Amendment SA1-SB389