§2353. Duties

            The commission, with the guidance of the board, shall do all of the following:

            (1) Promote, coordinate, and facilitate accessibility of all public and private services to d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing people through informing, educating, and advising businesses, industries, and other sectors on effective communication and the needs of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing individuals to promote and ensure accessibility to public services.

            (2) Serve as advocate for the needs and rights of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing people.

            (3) Collect information concerning deafness and provide for the dissemination of this information.

            (4) Develop and implement a statewide program to ensure continuity of services to d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing people.

            (5) Inform, educate, and advise deaf citizens, parents, and families of the availability of programs and services for d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing adults and children at all levels of state and local government.

            (6) Promote the training of interpreters and assist in the establishment of interpreter training programs.

            (7)(a) Establish, administer, and promote a statewide program to standardize interpreting services for those who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing.

            (b) The commission shall do all of the following:

            (i) Establish the process and set the criteria for the professional credentialing of interpreters.

            (ii) Develop and maintain a registry of credentialed interpreters, including administrative guidelines for the registration process.

            (iii) Set administrative guidelines regarding minimum qualifications and registration for interpreters working in educational settings, in conjunction with the Department of Education. The commission shall review for approval applications and renewals of state of Louisiana provisional and ancillary certificates for interpreters working for the department or any of the local educational agencies or special school boards throughout the state under the supervision of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

            (iv) Establish criteria regarding the minimum qualifications and registration of persons who may serve as interpreters during a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding in this state or its political subdivisions for a person who is d/Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing that align with and expand upon the rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court. No person shall serve as an interpreter in the courts of this state without the required interpreter certification.

            (c) The commission shall promulgate rules for the regulation of interpreters in this state. The rules shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

            (i) Charge reasonable fees to cover the administrative costs of applications, examination of applications, and renewal of registration.

            (ii) Accept registration for applicants with valid credentialing from another state, based on the board's recommendation for reciprocity.

            (iii) Adopt conditions under which registration will expire.

            (iv) Specify procedures outlining grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking an interpreter's registration with the state.

            (v) Adopt and specify grievance policy and procedures and the process for disciplining interpreters.

            (vi) Provide for a deaf or hard of hearing person's right to choose his interpreter to the extent possible and appropriate.

            (vii) Exempt interpreters of religious services or those interpreting on a voluntary basis without compensation from the requirement of registration.

            (d) The commission shall establish standards for businesses or organizations providing interpreting services, which may include best practices for provision of services.

            (8) Promulgate pursuant to R.S. 49:950 et seq., the procedures, regulations, rules, and criteria and take other action necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this Chapter where not otherwise prohibited by law.

            Added by Acts 1980, No. 629, §2; Acts 1985, No. 662, §1, eff. July 16, 1985; Acts 1988, No. 660, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 529, §1; Acts 1991, No. 895, §1; Acts 1993, No. 1006, §1, eff. June 25, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 924, §1; Acts 1997, No. 213, §1, eff. June 16, 1997; Acts 2008, No. 815, §4; Acts 2010, No. 743, §8(B), eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2017, No. 146, §11; Acts 2018, No. 206, §5; Acts 2022, No. 128, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 46:2352.

            NOTE: Former R.S. 46:2353 redesignated as R.S. 46:2354 by Acts 2022, No. 128, §1.