AB 589

This bill replaces the current licensure program for sign language interpreters

licensed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services with a licensure

program administered by the Sign Language Interpreters Examining Board, which

is created in the bill. The board's membership consists of three deaf, hard of hearing,

or deaf-blind individuals, three experienced sign language interpreters who are

licensed under the bill, and one individual who is not deaf, hard of hearing, or

deaf-blind and has obtained the services of a sign language interpreter on behalf of

an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

Under the bill, the board grants the following licenses:

1. Sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing. The board must license

an individual as a sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing if, among other

requirements, the individual has received at least a bachelor's degree from an

accredited college or university; the individual has successfully completed an

interpreter training program; and the individual has passed the basic performance

examination administered by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) and is

certified by BEI or has passed an examination the board determines is substantially

equivalent to the BEI basic performance examination. The bill includes alternative

paths to licensure as a sign language interpreter — intermediate hearing.

2. Sign language interpreter — advanced hearing. The board must license an

individual as a sign language interpreter — advanced hearing if, among other

requirements, the individual has received at least a bachelor's degree from an

accredited college or university; the individual has successfully completed an

interpreter training program; and the individual has passed the advanced or master

performance examination administered by BEI and is certified by BEI, has passed

the examination for and holds the national interpreter certification issued by the

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), or has passed an exam the board

determines is substantially equivalent. The bill includes alternative paths to

licensure as a sign language interpreter — advanced hearing.

3. Sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf. The board must license an

individual as a sign language interpreter — intermediate deaf if, among other

requirements, the individual holds a high school diploma or its equivalent; the

individual successfully completed at least 40 hours of a sign language interpreter

training curriculum for deaf interpreters; the individual successfully completed at

least 16 hours of sign language interpretation-related training approved by BEI or

RID; and the individual provides to the board letters of recommendation from at least

two individuals who hold a sign language interpreter — advanced deaf license, a

certified deaf interpreter certification issued by RID, or an equivalent certification.

Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation must verify that the

individual has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing the provision of

sign language interpretation services provided to clients.