SB 389

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.

The bill also creates a nine-member Sign Language Interpreter Council

(council), which generally advises DRL regarding the practice of sign language

interpreters. The council may grant a temporary exemption from the licensure

requirement, and must make recommendations to DRL regarding a code of ethics for

interpreters. The bill requires DRL to promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics

for interpreters and authorizes DRL to conduct disciplinary proceedings against

interpreters.

Under the bill, a licensed interpreter may not disclose any aspect of confidential

communication facilitated by the interpreter, unless all parties to the

communication consent and a court determines that disclosure is necessary for the

proper administration of justice.