Expanded licensure for sign language interpreters proposed

The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony March 6 on a bill that would expand licensure requirements for sign language interpreters.

Malcolm Sen. Ken Haar, sponsor of LB287, said the bill was introduced on behalf of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He said that 1 percent of Nebraskans are deaf and 9 percent are hard of hearing.

“Passage of LB287 guarantees that all Nebraskans receiving sign language interpreting services will obtain a higher standard of communication access,” Haar said.

Under the bill, all interpreters would be required to obtain licensure by Jan. 1, 2016, and pay a licensure fee established by the commission. An individual or entity providing interpreting services without a license after that date would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for each offense.

LB287 also would create a licensure category for video remote interpreting services.

Interpreting services would be exempt from the licensure requirement if conducted:
• as part of a religious service;
• in a health care emergency until a licensed interpreter could be obtained;
• by a student under the direct supervision of a licensed interpreter;
• by an educational interpreter working under regulation of the state Department of Education; or
• by an individual licensed in another state who is awaiting commission approval in Nebraska.

John Wyvill, executive director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, testified in support of the bill. Currently, only the courts, law enforcement and state agencies are required to use licensed sign language interpreters, he said.

“In other settings they may not [be licensed],” Wyvill said, “which means that if there is a complaint … there would be no way for the state to remedy that situation or ensure the quality or proficiency of the interpreter.”

No one testified in opposition and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.