QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF H.B. 4208 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4208 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Representative Dudley Spade
House Committee: Regulatory Reform
Senate Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Deaf Persons' Interpreters Act to do the following:
-- Provide for interpreters for a "deaf-blind person", as well as a deaf person.
-- Delete references to a "certified interpreter", and redefine "qualified interpreter".
-- Require the use of a qualified interpreter if an interpreter were required as an accommodation for a deaf or deaf-blind person under State or Federal law.
Under the Act, in an action before a court or a grand jury where a deaf person is a plaintiff, defendant, or witness, the court must appoint a certified interpreter or, in its discretion, a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings to the deaf person. In a proceeding before an appointing authority, other than a court, the appointing authority must appoint a certified interpreter or, in its discretion, appoint a qualified interpreter. The bill would extend these provisions to a deaf-blind person and require an appointed interpreter to be a qualified interpreter.
"Qualified interpreter" currently means a person who is not a certified interpreter but whose qualifications for interpreting for deaf persons are determined by the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be appropriate for interpreting for deaf persons. The bill, instead, would define "qualified interpreter" as a person who is certified through the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or certified through the State by the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 25, which also would amend the Act.
MCL 393.502 et al. Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The Department of Labor and Economic Growth has stated that the bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.
Date Completed: 5-17-07 Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt/Maria Tyszkiewicz
Stephanie Yu
floor\hb4208 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4208/0708