Bill > S205

This bill establishes a licensing system for interpreters and oral transliterators for the deaf in Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH). Commencing within one year of enactment, anyone providing interpreting or oral transliterating services for payment in the Commonwealth must be licensed by MCDHH, which will maintain a public list of all licensed professionals. It is illegal to work as an interpreter or oral transliterator without this license, and employers are prohibited from hiring unlicensed individuals for these services. Violations can result in fines, and deaf individuals denied a licensed interpreter when legally required can pursue legal action for damages and relief. Certain individuals, such as interpreting students or those providing services in religious settings without compensation, are exempt from these requirements, and provisional licenses will be available for interpreters serving deaf-blind individuals until a specific program is established. MCDHH will also develop a grievance procedure for interpreter conduct and establish regulations for legal interpreting assignments.