(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

               SECOND REPRINT     S.B. 245

 

Senate Bill No. 245–Senator Mathews

 

February 26, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Provides for regulation of interpreters for persons who are deaf or whose hearing is impaired. (BDR 54‑231)

 

FISCAL NOTE:                     Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                                    Effect on the State: Yes.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to professions; requiring interpreters for persons who are deaf or whose hearing is impaired to be certified; prescribing the requirements for certification; requiring the commission on professional standards in education to adopt regulations that require certain teachers and other educational personnel to satisfy the requirements for certification as an interpreter; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Title 54 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new chapter to consist of the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 10,

1-3  inclusive, of this act.

1-4    Sec. 2.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

1-5  requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3 to 6, inclusive, of this

1-6  act have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

1-7    Sec. 3.  “Interpreter” means a person who is qualified to engage in

1-8  the practice of interpreting in this state pursuant to section 9 of this act.

1-9    Sec. 4.  “Person who is deaf” means a person who is not able to

1-10  process information aurally and whose primary means of

1-11  communication is visual.

1-12    Sec. 5.  “Person whose hearing is impaired” means a person:

1-13    1.  Who has a hearing deficit;

1-14    2.  Who is able to process information aurally with or without the use

1-15  of a hearing aid or any other device that enhances the ability of a person

1-16  to hear; and

1-17    3.  Whose primary means of communication may be visual.

1-18    Sec. 6.  “Practice of interpreting” means the facilitation of

1-19  communication between persons who are deaf or whose hearing is

1-20  impaired and other persons. The term includes, without limitation:


2-1    1.  Translating spoken language into American Sign Language or

2-2  any other visual-gestural system of communication or vice versa;

2-3    2.  Translating spoken language into a tactile method of sign

2-4  language or vice versa;

2-5    3.  Translating spoken language into an oral interpretation of the

2-6  speaker’s words by enunciating, repeating or rephrasing those words

2-7  without using the voice to assist a person who is deaf or whose hearing is

2-8  impaired in lipreading the information conveyed by the speaker;

2-9    4.  Translating spoken language into a visual representation of

2-10  spoken language that:

2-11    (a) Uses eight hand shapes to represent groups of consonants and the

2-12  placement of those hand shapes in four positions around the face to

2-13  indicate groups of vowel sounds; and

2-14    (b) Is used in conjunction with lipreading;

2-15    5.  Translating spoken English into a system of sign language that is

2-16  based on the syntax of the English language or vice versa; and

2-17    6.  The use of any of the methods of interpreting or transliterating set

2-18  forth in subsections 1 to 5, inclusive, by a person who is deaf or whose

2-19  hearing is impaired to facilitate communication between another person

2-20  who is deaf or whose hearing is impaired and an interpreter, or between

2-21  two or more persons who are deaf or whose hearing is impaired.

2-22    Sec. 7.  The practice of interpreting is hereby declared to be a

2-23  learned profession, affecting public health, safety and welfare, and is

2-24  subject to regulation to protect the general public from the practice of

2-25  interpreting by unqualified persons.

2-26    Sec. 8.  The provisions of this chapter do not apply to a person who:

2-27    1.  Is licensed in another state to engage in the practice of

2-28  interpreting and who engages in the practice of interpreting in this state:

2-29    (a) For a period of not more than 30 nonconsecutive days in a

2-30  calendar year; or

2-31    (b) By teleconference if the interpreting services provided by that

2-32  person are necessary because an interpreter is unavailable to provide

2-33  those services in person or by teleconference;

2-34    2.  Engages in the practice of interpreting solely for meetings of

2-35  nonprofit civic or religious organizations;

2-36    3.  Engages in the practice of interpreting as necessary for the

2-37  provision of an emergency medical or governmental service to a person

2-38  who is deaf or whose hearing is impaired; or

2-39    4.  Engages occasionally in the practice of interpreting in a social

2-40  situation that does not require a qualified interpreter pursuant to the

2-41  provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§

2-42  12101 et seq., section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §

2-43  794, or the regulations adopted pursuant to those provisions.

2-44    Sec. 9.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person

2-45  who wishes to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state must:

2-46    (a) Be at least 18 years of age;

2-47    (b) Have at least a high school diploma or a general equivalency

2-48  diploma;


3-1    (c) Be capable of providing the type of interpreting services required

3-2  for the person who is deaf or whose hearing is impaired; and

3-3    (d) Have:

3-4       (1) Been issued at least one of the following certificates by the

3-5  Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or its successor organization:

3-6         (I) Master Comprehensive Skills Certificate;

3-7         (II) Comprehensive Skills Certificate;

3-8         (III) Certificate of Interpretation;

3-9         (IV) Certificate of Transliteration;

3-10        (V) Legal Specialist Certificate; or

3-11        (VI) Oral Interpreting Certificate;

3-12      (2) Been certified by the National Association of the Deaf or its

3-13  successor organization as having a level of proficiency in providing

3-14  interpreting services at level 3, 4 or 5; or

3-15      (3) Passed the Cued Language Transliterator National Certification

3-16  Examination administered by the Testing, Evaluation, and Certification

3-17  Unit, Inc., or its successor organization and must hold a Transliteration

3-18  Skills Certificate issued by the Testing, Evaluation, and Certification

3-19  Unit, Inc., or its successor organization.

3-20    2.  A person who wishes to engage in the practice of interpreting in

3-21  this state in a legal setting must comply with the requirements set forth in

3-22  paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection 1 and must:

3-23    (a) Have been issued at least one of the certificates set forth in

3-24  subparagraph (1) of paragraph (d) of subsection 1;

3-25    (b) Have been certified by the National Association of the Deaf or its

3-26  successor organization as having a level of proficiency in providing

3-27  interpreting services at level 4 or 5; or

3-28    (c) Have passed the Cued Language Transliterator National

3-29  Certification Examination administered by the Testing, Evaluation, and

3-30  Certification Unit, Inc., or its successor organization and must hold a

3-31  Transliteration Skills Certificate issued by the Testing, Evaluation, and

3-32  Certification Unit, Inc., or its successor organization.

3-33    3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, a person, including,

3-34  without limitation, a teacher and a teacher’s aide, who wishes to engage

3-35  in the practice of interpreting in this state in a public school, including,

3-36  without limitation, a charter school, or a private school must comply with

3-37  the requirements set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection 1

3-38  and must:

3-39    (a) Comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph (d) of

3-40  subsection 1; or

3-41    (b) Have completed the Educational Interpreter Performance

3-42  Assessment administered by the Boys Town National Research Hospital

3-43  or its successor organization and received a rating of his level of

3-44  proficiency in providing interpreting services at level 4 or 5.

3-45    4.  A person who has not complied with the requirements set forth in

3-46  paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 3 may engage in the practice of

3-47  interpreting in a public school, including, without limitation, a charter

3-48  school, or a private school for not more than 3 years if:


4-1    (a) There is a demonstrated shortage of personnel who have complied

4-2  with those requirements in the geographic area of this state in which the

4-3  public school or private school is located;

4-4    (b) The school district, charter school or private school that hires a

4-5  person pursuant to this subsection has made and continues to make a

4-6  good faith effort to recruit and hire persons who have complied with the

4-7  requirements set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 3;

4-8    (c) The shortage of personnel described in paragraph (a) has

4-9  precluded the school district, charter school or private school from

4-10  employing the number of persons who have complied with the

4-11  requirements set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 3 as is

4-12  necessary to satisfy the personnel requirements of the school district,

4-13  charter school or private school; and

4-14    (d) The person hired by the school district, charter school or private

4-15  school pursuant to this subsection makes satisfactory progress, as

4-16  determined by the school district, charter school or private school, toward

4-17  complying with the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) of

4-18  subsection 3 during the period of his employment.

4-19    5.  As used in this section:

4-20    (a) “Charter school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 385.007.

4-21    (b) “Legal setting” means:

4-22      (1) A communication with a law enforcement officer, as defined in

4-23  NRS 179B.070, that relates to a criminal investigation;

4-24      (2) A communication with an attorney who is acting in his

4-25  professional capacity;

4-26      (3) A negotiation for a contract for which the estimated amount

4-27  required to perform the contract is $1,000 or more; or

4-28      (4) A judicial proceeding, including, without limitation:

4-29        (I) A grand jury proceeding;

4-30        (II) A court proceeding;

4-31        (III) A pretrial examination, deposition, motion and related

4-32  proceedings of like character; and

4-33        (IV) The proceedings of an administrative agency.

4-34    (c) “Public school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 385.007.

4-35    (d) “Private school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 394.103.

4-36    Sec. 10.  1.  It is unlawful for a person to:

4-37    (a) Engage in the practice of interpreting in this state;

4-38    (b) Hold himself out as certified or qualified to engage in the practice

4-39  of interpreting in this state; or

4-40    (c) Use in connection with his name any title, words, letters or

4-41  other designation intended to imply or designate that he is an

4-42  interpreter,

4-43  without first complying with the requirements set forth in section 9 of

4-44  this act.

4-45    2.  A person who violates the provisions of subsection 1:

4-46    (a) Is guilty of a misdemeanor; and

4-47    (b) May be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.


5-1    3.  An action for the enforcement of a civil penalty assessed pursuant

5-2  to this section may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction by

5-3  the district attorney of the appropriate county or the attorney general.

5-4    Sec. 11.  NRS 50.050 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-5    50.050  1.  As used in NRS 50.050 to 50.053, inclusive, unless the

5-6  context requires otherwise:

5-7    (a) [“Handicapped person” means a person who, because he is deaf,

5-8  mute or has a physical speaking impairment, cannot readily understand or

5-9  communicate in the English language or cannot understand the

5-10  proceedings.

5-11    (b)] “Interpreter” means a person who is [readily] :

5-12      (1) Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

5-13  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

5-14      (2) Readily able to communicate with [the handicapped person,] a

5-15  person with a disability, translate the proceedings for him , and accurately

5-16  repeat and translate the statements of the [handicapped] person with a

5-17  disability to the court or magistrate or other person presiding over the

5-18  proceedings.

5-19    (b) “Person with a disability” means a person who, because he is deaf,

5-20  mute or has a physical speaking impairment, cannot readily understand

5-21  or communicate in the English language or cannot understand the

5-22  proceedings.

5-23    2.  In all judicial proceedings in which a [handicapped] person with a

5-24  disability appears as a witness, the court, magistrate or other person

5-25  presiding over the proceedings shall appoint an interpreter to interpret the

5-26  proceedings to [the handicapped] that person and to interpret the testimony

5-27  of [the handicapped] that person to the court, magistrate or other person

5-28  presiding.

5-29    3.  The court, magistrate or other person presiding over the proceedings

5-30  shall fix a reasonable compensation for the services and expenses of the

5-31  interpreter appointed pursuant to this section. If the judicial proceeding is

5-32  civil in nature , the compensation of the interpreter may be taxed as costs

5-33  and must not be charged as a public expense.

5-34    4.  Claims against a county, municipality, [the] this state or any agency

5-35  thereof for the compensation of an interpreter in a criminal proceeding or

5-36  other proceeding for which an interpreter must be provided at public

5-37  expense must be paid in the same manner as other claims against the

5-38  respective entities are paid. Payment may be made only upon the certificate

5-39  of the judge, magistrate or other person presiding over the proceedings that

5-40  the qualified interpreter has performed the services required and incurred

5-41  the expenses claimed.

5-42    Sec. 12.  NRS 50.051 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-43    50.051  An interpreter must be appointed at public expense for a

5-44  [handicapped] person with a disability who is a party to or a witness in a

5-45  criminal proceeding.

5-46    Sec. 13.  NRS 50.052 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-47    50.052  1.  If an interpreter appointed for a [handicapped] person with

5-48  a disability is not effectively or accurately communicating with or on

5-49  behalf of the [handicapped person,] person with a disability, and that fact


6-1  becomes known to the person who appointed him, another interpreter must

6-2  be appointed.

6-3    2.  Unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, a person may not be

6-4  appointed as an interpreter of a [handicapped] person with a disability in a

6-5  proceeding if he is:

6-6    (a) The spouse of the [handicapped] person with a disability or related

6-7  to him; or

6-8    (b) Otherwise interested in the outcome of the proceeding or biased for

6-9  or against one of the parties.

6-10    3.  Whenever possible, a [handicapped] person with a disability must

6-11  be given an interpreter of his [own] choice or one of whom he approves.

6-12    Sec. 14.  NRS 50.053 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-13    50.053  1.  Before undertaking his duties, the interpreter shall swear or

6-14  affirm that he will make a true interpretation in an understandable manner

6-15  to the person for whom he has been appointed, and that he will repeat the

6-16  statements of the [handicapped] person with a disability in the English

6-17  language to the best of his ability.

6-18    2.  While in the proper performance of his duties, an interpreter acts in

6-19  the place of the [handicapped] person with a disability and to that extent

6-20  has all of the rights and privileges of [the handicapped] that person for

6-21  purposes of the proceeding, including access to all relevant material.

6-22    Sec. 15.  NRS 50.054 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-23    50.054  1.  Except as otherwise provided by a regulation of the court

6-24  administrator adopted pursuant to NRS 1.510 and 1.520, a person shall not

6-25  act as an interpreter in a proceeding if he is:

6-26    (a) The spouse of a witness;

6-27    (b) Otherwise related to a witness;

6-28    (c) Biased for or against one of the parties; or

6-29    (d) Otherwise interested in the outcome of the proceeding.

6-30    2.  Before undertaking his duties, the interpreter shall swear or affirm

6-31  that he will:

6-32    (a) To the best of his ability, translate accurately to the witness, in the

6-33  language of the witness, questions and statements addressed to the witness;

6-34    (b) Make a true interpretation of the statements of the witness in an

6-35  understandable manner; and

6-36    (c) Repeat the statements of the witness in the English language to the

6-37  best of his ability.

6-38    3.  While in the proper performance of his duties, an interpreter has the

6-39  same rights and privileges as the witness, including the right to examine all

6-40  relevant material, but is not entitled to waive or exercise any of those rights

6-41  or privileges on behalf of the witness.

6-42    4.  As used in this section, “interpreter” means a person who is readily

6-43  able to communicate with a person who speaks a language other than

6-44  English and does not know the English language, translate the proceedings

6-45  for him and accurately repeat and translate the statements of the person in a

6-46  language other than English to the court, magistrate or other person

6-47  presiding. The term does not include an interpreter for [handicapped

6-48  persons] a person with a disability as that term is defined in NRS 50.050.

 


7-1    Sec. 16.  NRS 171.1536 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-2    171.1536  Upon the arrest of a [handicapped] person with a disability

7-3  as defined in NRS 50.050, and before his interrogation or the taking of his

7-4  statement, the peace officer in actual charge of the station, headquarters or

7-5  other facility to which the [handicapped] person with a disability has been

7-6  brought shall make an interpreter who is qualified to engage in the

7-7  practice of interpreting in this state pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9

7-8  of this act available at public expense to [the handicapped] that person,

7-9  subject to the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053.

7-10    Sec. 17.  NRS 171.1537 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-11    171.1537  When a [handicapped] person with a disability is detained in

7-12  custody, the detaining authority shall make available to him reasonable

7-13  means of communication, at least pencil and paper , and at least two

7-14  envelopes and first-class postage stamps. If the [handicapped] person with

7-15  a disability so requests, the proper officer of the detaining authority shall

7-16  make on his behalf the same number and kind of telephone calls which a

7-17  person arrested is [permitted] authorized by law or custom to make for

7-18  himself, and shall mail any letters written by [the handicapped] that

7-19  person.

7-20    Sec. 18.  NRS 171.1538 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-21    171.1538  1.  The rights to interpretation and communication provided

7-22  in NRS 171.1536 and 171.1537 may not be waived except knowingly and

7-23  voluntarily by the [handicapped] person with a disability by a written

7-24  statement indicating his desire not to be so assisted. At any time [from

7-25  arrest to] after arrest but before the termination of any custody, the

7-26  [handicapped] person may retract his waiver by indicating his desire to be

7-27  so assisted.

7-28    2.  Unless there is a waiver under this section, there [shall] must be no

7-29  interrogation or taking of the statement of a [handicapped] person with a

7-30  disability without the assistance of an interpreter who is qualified to

7-31  engage in the practice of interpreting in this state pursuant to subsection

7-32  2 of section 9 of this act.

7-33    Sec. 19.  NRS 213.055 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-34    213.055  An applicant or a witness at a hearing upon an application for

7-35  clemency who is a [handicapped] person with a disability as defined in

7-36  NRS 50.050 is entitled to the services of an interpreter at public expense,

7-37  subject to the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must

7-38  be [appointed] :

7-39    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

7-40  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

7-41    2.  Appointed by the governor or a member of the board designated by

7-42  him.

7-43    Sec. 20.  NRS 213.128 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-44    213.128  A prisoner, parolee or a witness at the hearing of a case who

7-45  is a [handicapped] person with a disability as defined in NRS 50.050 is

7-46  entitled to the services of an interpreter at public expense, subject to

7-47  the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must be

7-48  [appointed] :


8-1    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

8-2  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

8-3    2.  Appointed by the chairman of the board or other person who

8-4  presides at the hearing.

8-5    Sec. 21.  NRS 233B.1235 is hereby amended to read as follows:

8-6     233B.1235  A witness during his testimony at a hearing of a contested

8-7  case, who is a [handicapped] person with a disability as defined in NRS

8-8  50.050, is entitled to the services of an interpreter at public expense,

8-9  subject to the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must

8-10  be [appointed] :

8-11    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

8-12  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

8-13    2.  Appointed by the person who presides at the hearing.

8-14    Sec. 22.  NRS 391.019 is hereby amended to read as follows:

8-15    391.019  1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 391.027, the

8-16  commission:

8-17    (a) Shall adopt regulations:

8-18      (1) Prescribing the qualifications for licensing teachers and other

8-19  educational personnel and the procedures for the issuance and renewal of

8-20  such licenses.

8-21      (2) Identifying fields of specialization in teaching which require the

8-22  specialized training of teachers.

8-23      (3) Requiring teachers to obtain from the department an endorsement

8-24  in a field of specialization to be eligible to teach in that field of

8-25  specialization.

8-26      (4) Setting forth the educational requirements a teacher must satisfy

8-27  to qualify for an endorsement in each field of specialization.

8-28      (5) Setting forth the qualifications and requirements for obtaining a

8-29  license or endorsement to teach American Sign Language [.] , including,

8-30  without limitation, being qualified to engage in the practice of

8-31  interpreting pursuant to subsection 3 of section 9 of this act.

8-32      (6) Except as otherwise authorized by subsection 4 of section 9 of

8-33  this act, requiring teachers and other educational personnel to satisfy the

8-34  qualifications set forth in subsection 3 of section 9 of this act if they:

8-35        (I) Provide instruction or other educational services; and

8-36        (II) Concurrently engage in the practice of interpreting, as

8-37  defined in section 6 of this act.

8-38    (b) May adopt such other regulations as it deems necessary for its own

8-39  government or to carry out its duties.

8-40    2.  Any regulation which increases the amount of education, training or

8-41  experience required for licensing:

8-42    (a) Must, in addition to the requirements for publication in chapter 233B

8-43  of NRS, be publicized before its adoption in a manner reasonably

8-44  calculated to inform those persons affected by the change.

8-45    (b) Must not become effective until at least 1 year after the date it is

8-46  adopted by the commission.

8-47    (c) Is not applicable to a license in effect on the date the regulation

8-48  becomes effective.

 


9-1    Sec. 23.  NRS 391.31925 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-2     391.31925  The licensed employee or a witness at a hearing under NRS

9-3  391.311 to 391.3196, inclusive, who is a [handicapped] person with a

9-4  disability as defined in NRS 50.050, is entitled to the services of an

9-5  interpreter at public expense, subject to the provisions of NRS 50.052 and

9-6  50.053. The interpreter must be [appointed] :

9-7    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

9-8  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

9-9    2.  Appointed by the hearing officer.

9-10    Sec. 24.  NRS 396.324 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-11    396.324  The person who is the subject of a disciplinary hearing under

9-12  this chapter or who is a witness at that hearing, and who is a [handicapped]

9-13  person with a disability as defined in NRS 50.050, is entitled to the

9-14  services of an interpreter at public expense, subject to the provisions of

9-15  NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must be [appointed] :

9-16    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

9-17  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

9-18    2.  Appointed by the person who presides at the hearing.

9-19    Sec. 25.  NRS 422.278 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-20    422.278  Any person who is:

9-21    1.  The subject of a hearing conducted under the authority of the

9-22  welfare division or the division of health care financing and policy; or

9-23    2.  A witness at that hearing,

9-24  and who is a [handicapped] person with a disability as defined in NRS

9-25  50.050, is entitled to the services of an interpreter at public expense,

9-26  subject to the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must

9-27  be qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

9-28  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act and must be appointed by

9-29  the person who presides at the hearing.

9-30    Sec. 26.  NRS 463.342 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-31    463.342  Any person who is the subject of a hearing conducted under

9-32  the provisions of this chapter, or who is a witness at that hearing, and who

9-33  is a [handicapped] person with a disability as defined in NRS 50.050, is

9-34  entitled to the services of an interpreter at public expense, subject to

9-35  the provisions of NRS 50.052 and 50.053. The interpreter must be

9-36  [appointed] :

9-37    1.  Qualified to engage in the practice of interpreting in this state

9-38  pursuant to subsection 2 of section 9 of this act; and

9-39    2.  Appointed by the person who presides at the hearing.

9-40    Sec. 27.  NRS 608.0116 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-41    608.0116  “Professional” means pertaining to an employee who is

9-42  licensed or certified by the State of Nevada for and engaged in the practice

9-43  of law or any of the professions regulated by chapters 623 to 645,

9-44  inclusive, of NRS[.] and sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act.

9-45    Sec. 28.  NRS 615.200 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-46    615.200  The bureau may:

9-47    1.  Enter into reciprocal agreements with other states , [(]which, for

9-48  this purpose, may include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin


10-1  Islands and Guam , [)] to provide for the vocational rehabilitation of

10-2  individuals within the states concerned;

10-3    2.  Establish or construct rehabilitation facilities and workshops and

10-4  make grants to, or contracts or other arrangements with, public and other

10-5  nonprofit organizations for the establishment of workshops and

10-6  rehabilitation facilities;

10-7    3.  Operate facilities for carrying out the purposes of this chapter;

10-8    4.  In matters relating to vocational rehabilitation:

10-9    (a) Conduct research, studies, investigations and demonstrations and

10-10  make reports;

10-11  (b) Provide training and instruction , [(]including , without limitation,

10-12  the establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships and

10-13  traineeships with such stipends and allowances as may be deemed

10-14  necessary ; [);]

10-15  (c) Disseminate information; and

10-16  (d) Render technical assistance;

10-17  5.  Provide for the establishment, supervision, management and control

10-18  of small business enterprises to be operated by severely handicapped

10-19  persons where their operation will be improved through the management

10-20  and supervision of the bureau; and

10-21  6.  Maintain a list of persons who are qualified to engage in the

10-22  practice of interpreting in this state pursuant to section 9 of this act to

10-23  serve as interpreters for handicapped persons and shall make any such list

10-24  available without charge to persons who request it.

10-25  Sec. 28.5.  On or before July 1, 2005, the Commission on Professional

10-26  Standards in Education shall adopt regulations pursuant to the amendatory

10-27  provisions of section 22 of this act.

10-28  Sec. 29.  Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 2 to 31, inclusive,

10-29  of this act, a person who engages in the practice of interpreting in this state

10-30  is not required to comply with the provisions of section 9 of this act before

10-31  July 1, 2005.

10-32  Sec. 30.  The provisions of section 10 of this act do not apply to

10-33  offenses committed before July 1, 2005.

10-34  Sec. 31.  1.  This section and sections 1 to 9, inclusive, and 27 to 30,

10-35  inclusive, of this act become effective on July 1, 2003.

10-36  2.  Sections 10 to 26, inclusive, of this act become effective on July 1,

10-37  2005.

 

10-38  H