Sec. 46a-33a. Registration of persons providing interpreting services. Required qualifications.
Sec. 46a-33a. Registration of persons providing interpreting services. Required qualifications. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Interpreting" means the translating or transliterating of English concepts to a
language concept used by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing or means the translating
of a deaf or hard of hearing person's language concept to English concepts. Language
concepts include, but are not limited to, the use of American Sign Language, English-based sign language, cued speech, oral transliterating and information received tactually;
(2) "Legal setting" means any criminal or civil action involving a court of competent
jurisdiction, any investigation conducted by a duly authorized law enforcement agency,
employment related hearings and appointments requiring the presence of an attorney;
(3) "Medical setting" means medical related situations including mental health
treatment, psychological evaluations, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention and
appointments or treatment requiring the presence of a doctor, nurse or other health care
professional; and
(4) "Educational setting" means a school or other educational institution, including
elementary, high school and post-graduation schools where interpretive services are
provided to a student.
(b) Commencing October 1, 1998, and annually thereafter, all persons providing
interpreting services shall register with the Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Such registration shall be on a form prescribed or furnished by the commission
and shall include the registrant's name, address, phone number, place of employment
as interpreter and interpreter certification or credentials. Commencing July 1, 2001, and
annually thereafter, the commission shall issue identification cards for those who register
in accordance with this section.
(c) No person shall provide interpreting services unless such person is registered
with the commission according to the provisions of this section and (1) has passed the
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National
Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification
knowledge examination, holds a level three certification provided by the National Association of the Deaf, documents the achievement of two continuing education units per
year for a maximum of five years of commission-approved training, and on or before
the fifth anniversary of having passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has passed the National
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter certification examination, (2) has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination and is a graduate of an
accredited interpreter training program and documents the achievement of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years of commission-approved
training, and on or before the fifth anniversary of having passed the National Registry
of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has
passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination or
the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
national interpreter certification examination, (3) holds a level four or higher certification from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) holds certification by the National
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only,
holds oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for
situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, holds certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry
of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) holds a reverse skills certificate
or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf,
or (8) holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf national interpreting certificate.
(d) No person shall provide interpreting services in a medical setting unless such
person is registered with the commission according to the provisions of this section and
holds (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters
for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation or a certificate of transliteration from the
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level four or higher certification
from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified
deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, (5) for situations
requiring an oral interpreter only, oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, or (7) holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national
interpreting certificate.
(e) No person shall provide interpreting services in a legal setting unless such person
is registered with the commission according to the provisions of this section and holds
(1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation and a certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level five certification from the National
Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter
under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an
oral interpreter only, oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf, (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from
the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, or (7) holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting
certificate.
(f) The requirements of this section shall apply to persons who receive compensation for the provision of interpreting services and include those who provide interpreting
services as part of their job duties.
(g) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section shall not apply to any person
providing interpreting services in an educational setting until July 1, 2003.
(P.A. 98-252, S. 73, 80; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 24, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; P.A. 07-15, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 98-252 effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 added Subsec. (a)(4) defining "educational setting",
amended Subsec. (d)(3) to reduce required certification from level five to level four and added Subsec. (g) re provision of
services in an educational setting, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; P.A. 07-15 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to redefine "interpreting" by substituting
"language concept" for "specialized vocabulary" and making a technical change, amended Subsec. (a)(2) to redefine "legal
setting" by substituting "a court of competent jurisdiction" for "the Superior Court or its agents", amended Subsec. (a)(3)
to redefine "medical setting" by adding "other health care professional", amended Subsec. (c)(1) and (2) by adding reference
to passage of the "National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge
examination" and additional references to passage of the "National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance
examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter
certification examination" to testing provisions, added Subsecs. (c)(8), (d)(7) and (e)(7) re holding National Association
of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate, amended Subsecs. (c)(3) and
(d)(3) to require level four "or higher" certification, and made technical changes.