Bill > S204

This bill establishes a system for protecting consumers who use sign language, oral interpretation, and transliteration services by defining what constitutes a "qualified interpreter" and requiring registration. A qualified interpreter is defined as someone skilled in these communication methods who can accurately convey information to and from deaf or hard of hearing individuals. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) will set the standards for determining who is qualified, and only interpreters registered by the MCDHH will be presumed qualified to provide communication access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the Commonwealth, particularly in situations beyond emergencies.