An Act To Amend the Law Governing the Licensure of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1340
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: EDMONDS, PERCY, BROMLEY, HOBBINS, TURNER, BLANCHETTE, MILLS, RECTOR, SMITH
Amends: 32 MRSA §1524, 32 MRSA §1527, 32 MRSA §1528, 32 MRSA §1528-A, 32 MRSA §1531, 32 MRSA §1532

Legislative Document 
No. 1340 
S.P.467 
In Senate, March 17, 2005 
An Act To Amend the Law Governing the Licensure of Interpreters 
for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative PERCY of Phippsburg and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BROMLEY of Cumberland, HOBBINS of York, TURNER of Cumberland, 
Representatives: BLANCHETTE of Bangor, MILLS of Farmington, RECTOR of Thomaston, 
SMITH of Monmouth. 
Printed on recyc1ed paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1524, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §10 and 
affected by §20, is further amended to read: 
§1524. 
Requirements for licensure; limited interpreter 
and limited transliterator 
To be eligible for licensure as a limited interpreter or 
limited transliterator under this chapter, an applicant must be 
at least 18 years of age and must provide the following: 
1. 
High school diploma. 
Proof of a high school diploma or 
the 
equivalent; 
3. 
Sworn statement. 
A sworn, 
signed statement 
applicant has read, understands and agrees to abide by 
of Ethics of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 
a 
comparable 
or 
successor 
organization 
recognized 
that the 
the Code 
Inc., or 
by 
the 
commissioner; 
4. 
Proof 
of 
education 
and 
training 
in 
American 
Sign 
Language. 
Wl'it;t;eR Except as provided in this section, written 
proof of the applicant's education and training in American Sign 
Language, consisting of either: 
A. 
Proof of completion of at least 100 clock hours of 
instruction in American Sign Language conducted by: 
(1) 
An 
Language 
successor 
instructor recognized by the 
Teachers 
Association, 
or 
a 
organization recognized by the 
American Sign 
comparable 
or 
commissioner; 
(2) 
An interpreter certified by either the Registry of 
Interpreters 
for 
the 
Deaf, 
Inc. 
or 
the 
National 
Association of 
the Deaf, 
Inc., 
or 
a 
comparable or 
successor organization of either 
recognized 
by 
the 
commissioner; or 
(3) 
An 
instructor of courses 
conducted through an 
accredited college, accredited university or accredited 
or approved high school or conducted by certification 
maintenance course sponsors approved by the Registry of 
Interpreters 
for 
the 
Deaf, 
Inc. 
or 
the 
National 
Association of the Deaf, 
Inc., 
or 
a 
comparable or 
successor 
organization of either 
recognized 
by 
the 
commissioner; or 
B. 
Submission of a letter attesting that the applicant's 
skill level is equivalent to a person who has completed 100 
Page l-LR0099(1) 
hours of instruction in American Sign Language. 
must be prepared and signed by: 
The letter 
(1) 
An 
Language 
successor 
instructor recognized by the 
Teachers 
Association, 
or 
a 
organization recognized by the 
American Sign 
comparable 
or 
commissioner; 
(2) 
An interpreter certified by either the Registry of 
Interpreters 
for 
the 
Deaf, 
Inc. 
or 
the 
National 
Association of the Deaf, 
Inc., 
or 
a 
comparable or 
successor 
organization of either 
recognized 
by 
the 
commissioner; or 
(3) 
An 
instructor of courses 
conducted through an 
accredited college, accredited university or accredited 
or approved high school or conducted by certification 
maintenance course sponsors approved by 
the Registry 
of Interpreters for the Deaf, 
Inc. or the National 
Association of the Deaf, 
Inc., 
or 
a 
comparable 
or 
successor 
organization of either 
recognized 
by 
the 
commissioner; and 
5. Proof of education and training in interpreting process. 
WI'~l;l;eB Except as provided in this section, written proof of 
completion of at least 100 clock hours of instruction in the 
interpreting process, 
which must 
include instruction in deaf 
culture and the ethics of interpreting, 
conducted through an 
accredited 
college, 
accredited 
university 
or 
accredited 
or 
approved high school or conducted by certification maintenance 
course sponsors approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the 
Deaf, Inc. or the National Association of the Deaf, Inc., or a 
comparable or successor organization of either recognized by the 
commissioner. Credit may not be given for interpreting process 
clock hours that were completed prior to 5 years from the date of 
application. 
As 
an alternative to satisf:ling 
sub~ections 4 and 5, 
an 
applicant for 
licensure as 
a 
limited interpreter or limited 
transliterator ma:l submit documentation of a 
score of 3.5 or 
higher Qn the Educational Interpreter Performance 
Asses~ment, or 
successor assessment. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1527, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §14 and 
affected by §20, is further amended to read: 
§1527. 
Applications for licensure; fees 
An 
applicant for 
1524, 1524-A or l524-B, 
supporting documents to 
initial licensure, 
pursuant to section 
shall submit a written application with 
the department on forms provided by the 
department. 
The applicant shall pay a nonrefundable application 
fee established by the department in an amount not to exceed $50, 
and an initial license fee not to exceed $300, except that an 
applicant who is deaf must pay an initial license fee of $100. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1528, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §14 and 
affected by §20, is further amended to read: 
§1528. Renewal 
All licenses must be renewed annually on or before June 30th 
of each year or at such other time as the commissioner may 
designate. 
The annual license renewal fee must be established by 
the department by rulemaking and may not exceed $300, except that 
an applicant who is deaf must pay an annual license renewal fee 
of $100. 
The commissioner shall notify each licensee, at the 
licensee's 
last 
known 
address, 
days 
in 
advance 
of 
the 
expiration of the license. 
Renewal notices must be on forms 
provided by the department. 
A license not renewed by June 30th 
automatically expires. 
The 
department 
may 
renew 
an 
expired 
license if the renewal application is returned within 90 days 
after the license expiration date and upon payment of a late fee 
of $10 in addition to the renewal fee. 
A person who submits an 
application for 
renewal more than 90 
days after the license 
expiration date is subject to all requirements governing new 
applicants under this chapter. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1528-A, sub-§l. as enacted by PL 1999, c. 
399, §15 and affected by §20, is amended to read: 
I. 
Limited interpreters. 
An application for renewal of a 
limited 
interpreter, 
limited 
transliterator 
or 
limited 
deaf 
interpreter license must show proof of completion of at least 19 
~ hours 
annually of 
continuing education in American 
Sign 
Language or the interpreting process. 
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Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1531, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 399, §17 and 
affected by §20, is amended to read: 
§1531. Disclosure 
All interpreters licensed pursuant to this chapter shall 
disclose their license 
categorYT-~r&~~-~-eKFe~ieBee with 
specific certifications held and any postsecondary degrees to 
consumers and to the person or persons engaging the interpreter's 
services. 
The 
content 
and 
form 
of 
the 
disclosure 
must 
be 
developed by the department pursuant to rule-making provisions of 
the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. 
Rules adopted pursuant 
to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter **-A 2-A. 
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §1532, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 399, §17 and 
affected by §20, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing 
licensure for interpreters for the deaf and hard-of-hearing: 
1. 
It provides 
that 
achieving 
a 
score 
of 
3.5 
on 
the 
Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment may be used as an 
additional method of obtaining licensure as a limited interpreter 
for the deaf or hard-of-hearing or a limited transliterator; 
2. 
It 
eliminates 
the 
requirement 
that 
an 
interpreter 
disclose the interpreter's training and experience to a consumer 
or persons utilizing the services of the interpreter in order to 
make the disclosure more meaningful to the consumer and less 
burdensome for the interpreter; 
3. 
It decreases the initial and renewal license fees for 
applicants who are deaf from $300 to $100; 
4. 
It increases from 15 
to 20 the annual number of hours 
of 
continuing 
education 
that 
must 
be 
completed 
by 
persons 
licensed as 
limited interpreters, 
limited transliterators 
and 
limited deaf interpreters; and 
5. 
It 
repeals 
transitional 
language 
relating 
to 
qualifications for limited licenses.