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SF 295

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/26/2023 12:52pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying requirements for interpreters; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, section 122A.31, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 122A.31, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Requirements for American sign language/English interpreters.

(a)
In addition to any other requirements that a school district establishes, any person employed
to provide American sign language/English interpreting or sign transliterating services on
a full-time or part-time basis for a school district deleted text begin after July 1, 2000,deleted text end must:

(1) hold current interpreter deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin ornew text end transliterator certificates awarded by the Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or the general level interpreter proficiency certificate awarded
by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), or a comparable state certification from
the commissioner of educationdeleted text begin ;deleted text end new text begin ,new text end and

deleted text begin (2)deleted text end satisfactorily complete an interpreter/transliterator training program affiliated with
an accredited educational institutiondeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (2) hold a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by RID.
new text end

(b) New graduates of an interpreter/transliterator program affiliated with an accredited
education institutionnew text begin or deaf interpretersnew text end shall be granted a two-year provisional certificate
by the commissioner. During the two-year provisional period, the interpreter/transliterator
must develop and implement an education plan in collaboration with a mentor under
paragraph (c).

(c) A mentor of a provisionally certified interpreter/transliterator must be an
interpreter/transliterator who has either NAD level IV or V certification or RID certified
interpreter and certified transliterator certification and have at least three years new text begin of
new text end interpreting/transliterating experience in any educational setting. The mentor, in collaboration
with the provisionally certified interpreter/transliterator, shall develop and implement an
education plan designed to meet the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (1), and include
a weekly on-site mentoring process.

(d) Consistent with the requirements of this paragraph, a person holding a provisional
certificate may apply to the commissioner for one time-limited extension. The commissioner,
in consultation with the Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, must
grant the person a time-limited extension of the provisional certificate based on the following
documentation:

(1) letters of support from the person's mentor, a parent of a pupil the person serves, the
special education director of the district in which the person is employed, and a representative
from the regional service center of the deaf and hard-of-hearing;

(2) records of the person's formal education, training, experience, and progress on the
person's education plan; and

(3) an explanation of why the extension is needed.

As a condition of receiving the extension, the person must comply with a plan and the
accompanying deleted text begin time linedeleted text end new text begin timelinenew text end for meeting the requirements of this subdivision. A
committee composed of the deaf and hard-of-hearing state specialist, a representative of
the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, a representative of the Minnesota Registry of
Interpreters deleted text begin ofdeleted text end new text begin fornew text end the Deaf, and other appropriate deleted text begin personsdeleted text end new text begin committee membersnew text end selected by
the commissioner must develop the plan and deleted text begin time linedeleted text end new text begin timelinenew text end for the person receiving the
extension.

(e) A school district may employ only an interpreter/transliterator who has been certified
under paragraph (a) or (b), or for whom a time-limited extension has been granted under
paragraph (d).

new text begin (f) An interpreter who meets the requirements of paragraph (a) is "essential personnel"
as defined in section 125A.76, subdivision 1.
new text end