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An Act To Amend and Clarify the Laws Concerning American Sign Language Interpreters
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §48-A, sub-§1, ¶M, as amended by PL 2017, c. 223, §2, is further amended to read:
 
M. "Qualified legal interpreter" means a person who is licensed under Title 32, chapter 22 as a certified interpreter,or certified deaf interpreter or certified transliterator and who:
 
(1) Is a hearing person who:
 
(a) Holds a current Specialist Certificate: Legal from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or its successor;
 
(b) Satisfies the eligibility criteria for taking the exam for the specialist certificate described in division (a) as long as, by January 1, 2012, that person obtains the specialist certificate described in division (a);
 
(c) Is included on the bureau's list of qualified interpreters on the effective date of this section, as long as that person, by January 1, 2006, meets the eligibility criteria for taking the exam for the specialist certificate described in division (a) and, by January 1, 2012, obtains the specialist certificate described in division (a); or
 
(d) Possesses qualifications, certifications or credentials to interpret in court proceedings as established by the Supreme Judicial Court; or
 
(2) Is a deaf interpreter who holds a current Certificate of Interpretation from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or its successor or a Reverse Skills Certificate from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or its successor. Beginning January 1, 2006, a deaf person, hard-of-hearing person or late-deafened person must also satisfy the eligibility criteria for taking the exam for the Specialist Certificate: Legal or its successor.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1358, sub-§1, ¶E, as reallocated by RR 2005, c. 1, §13, is amended to read:
 
E. "Licensed interpreter" means a person who provides sign language interpreting services and is licensed under Title 32, section 1524 or section 1524-B or 1524-C.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1521, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 749, §3, is repealed.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §1521, sub-§§1-B to 1-D  are enacted to read:
 
1-B.  Accredited.     "Accredited" means an educational institution that is approved by the United States Department of Education or a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
 
1-C.  American Sign Language proficiency interview.     "American Sign Language proficiency interview" means a holistic language evaluation that is used to determine global American Sign Language proficiency and that is administered by an educational testing service organization and evaluated by an American Sign Language evaluation service organization recognized by the director.
 
1-D.  Conditional license.     "Conditional license" means a license granted to an applicant who has completed the educational requirements under section 1524-C, passed a national interpreter certification knowledge exam and passed an American Sign Language proficiency interview but who is not certified with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or a comparable or successor organization recognized by the director.
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §1521, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:
 
3-A.  Director.     "Director" means the Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the department.
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §1521, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §6 and §20, is further amended to read:
 
6. Interpreter.   "Interpreter or transliterator" means a person who provides any of the following services:
 
A.  English-based transliterating, which includes but is not limited to conveying a message by visible representations of the English language such as manually coded English and oral transliteration. This process conveys information from one mode of English to another mode of English;
 
B. American Sign Language-based interpreting, which is the process of conveying information between American Sign Language and English; or
 
C. Intermediary interpreting, which means interpreting services rendered by a deaf interpreter to facilitate communication between another deaf person and another licensed interpreter or between 2 or more deaf persons.
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §1521, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  National interpreter certification knowledge exam.     "National interpreter certification knowledge exam" means an entry-level exam administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or a comparable or successor organization recognized by the director, that tests for knowledge appropriate to an interpreter holding national certification and covers the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Code of Professional Conduct, interpreting issues and theory, culture and American Sign Language linguistics.
Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §1522, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. K, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 1522.Director; powers and duties
The commissionerdirector has the following powers and duties in addition to other powers and duties set forth in this chapter.
 
1. Rules.   The commissioner maydirector shall establish guidelines and adopt rules in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapternecessary for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter. Rules adopted under this chaptersubsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, section 8071as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
2.  Licensure.     The commissioner shall license a person who has successfully complied with the application process established by the department, paid the required fees established by the department under sections 1527 and 1528 and met the qualifications for licensure as set forth in section 1524. The commissioner shall make available, at cost, a directory that contains the names of all individuals licensed pursuant to this chapter.
 
4. Advisory council.   The commissionerdirector, as necessary, may select members of the interpreting profession and other interested parties to serve on an advisory council to advise and consult with the commissionerdirector concerning the regulation of interpreters for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Service on the council is not in itself a conflict of interest regardless of the occupations or associations of the members.
Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §1524, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. K, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 10. 32 MRSA §1524-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. K, §§3 and 4, is repealed.
Sec. 11. 32 MRSA §1524-B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 112, Pt. A, §§6 and 7, is further amended to read:
§ 1524-B.Requirements for licensure; certified interpreter and certified deaf interpreter
To be eligible for licensure as a certified interpreter,or certified deaf interpreter or certified transliterator under this chapter, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must provide the following:
 
1.  High school diploma.     Proof of a high school diploma or the equivalent; and
 
3. Proof of certification.   Documented proof of valid certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., documented proof of a minimum certification level of 4 from the National Association of the Deaf, Inc. or comparable certification by a comparable or successor organization recognized by the commissionerdirector that is current at the time of application.
Sec. 12.  32 MRSA §1524-C  is enacted to read:
§ 1524-C. Requirements for licensure; conditional interpreter and conditional deaf interpreter
No more than one conditional license may be issued to a person who has completed the education requirements of this chapter. A conditional license may be held no more than 4 years, except that a 5th year may be granted by the director upon demonstration of extreme hardship.
To be eligible for licensure as a conditional interpreter or conditional deaf interpreter under this chapter, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must provide the following:
 
1.  Proof of proficiency in American Sign Language.     Documented proof of a score of 3.5 or higher on an American Sign Language proficiency interview; and
 
2.  Proof of education and training in the interpreting process.     Documented proof of the following:
 
A.  An associate degree or higher in American Sign Language, American Sign Language interpreting or deaf studies from an accredited college or university;
 
B.  For persons holding a limited license that is current on the effective date of this section, an alternative pathway approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or a comparable or successor organization recognized by the director;
 
C.  A passing score on a national interpreter certification knowledge exam; or
 
D.  A passing score on a certified deaf interpreter knowledge exam administered by an organization that assesses language interpretation recognized by the director.
Sec. 13. 32 MRSA §1525, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §12 and affected by §20, is further amended to read:
§ 1525.License required
After June 30, 2000, aA person may not provide interpreting services as defined in this chapter for compensation or remuneration unless properly licensed in accordance with this chapter. This section also applies to a person providing video-based interpreting services in which one or more participants are physically located in the State and the person providing the services does not meet the exemptions as set out under section 1525-A.
Sec. 14. 32 MRSA §1525-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 399, §13 and affected by §20, is amended to read:
 
1. Nonresident interpreters.   This chapter does not apply to certified interpreters who are residents of a jurisdiction other than this State and who do not interpret for compensation or remuneration in the State for more than 16060 hours per year. Service during declared state or national emergencies does not count toward the 16060 hours per year limitation.
Sec. 15. 32 MRSA §1527, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. K, §6 and PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. B, §5, is further amended to read:
§ 1527.Fees
The Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the departmentdirector may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this chapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes, except that an applicationa fee for any one purpose may not exceed $50, an initial license fee may not exceed $325 and an applicant who is deaf must pay an initial license fee of $100. An applicant for initial licensure, pursuant to section 1524, 1524-A or 1524-B, shall submit a written application with supporting documents to the department. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 16. 32 MRSA §1528, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. K, §7, is further amended to read:
§ 1528.Renewal
All licenses must be renewed annually on or before June 30th of each year or at such other time as the commissionerdirector may designate. A license not renewed by June 30th automatically expires. The department may renew an expired license if the renewal application is returned withinA license may be renewed up to 90 days after the license expiration date and upon payment of a late fee as set under section 1527 in addition to the renewal fee as set under section 1527. A person who submits an application for renewal more than 90 days after the license expiration date is subject to all requirements governing new applicants under this chapter.
Sec. 17. 32 MRSA §1528-A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 267, §4, is further amended to read:
§ 1528-A.Continuing education
Renewal of a license under this chapter is contingent upon evidence of participation in continuing education as determined by the director. A licensee shall certify at time of renewal compliance with the continuing education requirements under this section.
 
1. Limited interpreters.  An application for renewal of aA holder of a limited interpreter, limited transliteratorlicensed under former section 1524 or limited deaf interpreter license under former section 1524-A must show proof of completion ofcomplete at least 20 hours annually of continuing education in American Sign Language or the interpreting process.
 
2. Certified interpreters.  An applicant for renewal of aA certified interpreter,or certified deaf interpreter or certified transliterator license is not required to show proof of continuing education, but is required to show proof ofmaintain continued certification by eitherwith the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or the National Association of the Deaf, Inc., or a comparable or successor organization of either recognized by the commissionerdirector.
 
3.  Conditional interpreters.     A conditional interpreter or conditional deaf interpreter must complete at least 20 hours annually of continuing education in American Sign Language or the interpreting process.
Sec. 18. 32 MRSA §1531, as amended by PL 2005, c. 267, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 19. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 22, in the chapter headnote, the words "American sign language, English interpreters and transliterators" are amended to read "American sign language interpreters" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
Sec. 20. Discontinuance of initial licensure; renewal of existing license. A new limited interpreter license may not be issued by the Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation on or after the effective date of this Act. The holder of an existing limited interpreter license under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, former section 1524 or a limited deaf interpreter license under Title 32, former section 1524-A may renew that license in the manner set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 22. A limited interpreter license expires in the manner set forth in section 1528.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.