Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-838: (Formerly Sec. 46a-33a). Registration of persons providing interpreting services. Required qualifications. Penalties for misrepresentation. Standards.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Community setting” means any setting, other than those specifically identified as educational, legal or medical, including, but not limited to, any setting involving everyday life activities such as information sharing, employment, social services, entertainment and civic and community engagements;

(2) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing;

(3) “Department” means the Department of Aging and Disability Services;

(4) “Interpreting” means the translating or transliterating of English concepts to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person's language to English concepts through the use of American Sign Language, protactile language and tactile language for persons who are deafblind, English-based sign language, non-English-based language for non-English speaking persons, cued speech and oral transliterating;

(5) “Deafblind” means combined vision and hearing loss that challenge a person's ability to communicate, interact with others, access information and move about safely;

(6) “Educational setting” means any setting where interpretive services are provided concerning education-related matters, including, but not limited to, all schools, school-based programs, services and activities and other educational programs;

(7) “Legal setting” means any criminal or civil action involving a court of competent jurisdiction, any investigation or action conducted by a duly authorized law enforcement agency, employment-related hearings, appointments and situations requiring the presence of an attorney;

(8) “Medical setting” means gatherings or gathering places where physical health, mental health, or both are addressed, including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics, assisted living and rehabilitation facilities, mental health treatment sessions, psychological evaluations, substance abuse treatment sessions, crisis intervention and appointments or other treatment requiring the presence of a doctor, nurse, medical staff or other health care professional; and

(9) “Transliterating” means converting or rendering English concepts to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person's language concept to English concepts.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, all persons providing interpreting services shall register, annually, with the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Such registration shall be on a form prescribed or furnished by the bureau and shall include the registrant's name, residential or business address, or both, contact information, including, but not limited to, phone number, place of employment as interpreter and interpreter certification or credentials. The bureau shall (1) issue interpreter identification cards for those who register in accordance with this section, and (2) maintain a current listing on the Internet web site of the Department of Aging and Disability Services of such registered interpreters, categorized by interpreter settings for which they are qualified and by specialized skills such as protactile language or tactile language interpreting for deafblind persons and interpreting for non-English speaking persons. The bureau, in consultation with the Interpreting Standards Board established pursuant to section 17a-835b, may also require documentation of the registrant's training hours. The bureau shall annually issue interpreter identification cards listing the type of settings in which the registrant is qualified to interpret. The department shall establish an Internet web page containing information about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals. The department's Internet web page shall include, but not be limited to, information related to such services provided by the department and the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children and Families.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, no person shall provide interpreting services in the state, including in a community setting, unless such person is registered with the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and Disability Services according to the provisions of this section, holds recognized national or state interpreter credentials determined by the Interpreting Standards Board, established pursuant to section 17a-835b, to be acceptable for interpreting purposes where appropriate in the state and, until new interpreter standards are adopted pursuant to subsection (k) of this section, has met at least one of the following qualifications and the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section:

(1) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, (B) holds a level three certification provided by the National Association of the Deaf, and (C) (i) documents the achievement of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years of training approved by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, and (ii) on or before the fifth anniversary of having passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter certification examination;

(2) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, (B) is a graduate of an accredited interpreter training program and documents the achievement of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years of training approved by the commissioner, and (C) on or before the fifth anniversary of having passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter certification examination;

(3) Holds a level four or higher certification from the National Association of the Deaf;

(4) Holds certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf;

(5) For situations requiring an oral interpreter only, holds oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf;

(6) For situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, holds certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test;

(7) Holds a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf;

(8) Holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate; or

(9) Holds the credential of Approved Deaf Interpreter, Approved American Sign Language-English Interpreter, or Approved Sign Language Transliterator by the Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

(d) No person shall provide interpreting services in a medical setting unless such person is registered with the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation or a certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level four or higher certification from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or certification as a deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, a certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

(e) No person shall provide interpreting services in a legal setting unless such person is registered with the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation and a certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level five certification from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

(f) No person who is not registered as a qualified interpreter pursuant to this section shall:

(1) Engage in the practice of or offer to engage in the practice of interpreting for another person, an agency or an entity;

(2) Use the title “interpreter”, “transliterator” or a similar title in connection with services provided under his or her name;

(3) Present or identify himself or herself as an interpreter qualified to engage in interpreting in this state;

(4) Use the title “interpreter”, “transliterator” or a similar title in advertisements or communications; or

(5) Perform the function of or convey the impression that he or she is an interpreter or transliterator.

(g) The requirements of this section shall apply to persons who (1) receive compensation for the provision of interpreting services, and (2) provide interpreting services as part of their job duties. The requirements of this section shall not apply to nonregistered individuals such as family members and friends who voluntarily provide interpreting services at the request of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person.

(h) The following individuals shall be exempt from the registration requirements of this section:

(1) An individual interpreting at (A) a worship service conducted by a religious entity, or (B) services for educational purposes conducted by a religious entity or religiously affiliated school;

(2) An individual engaged in interpreting during an emergency situation, when obtaining a registered interpreter or registered transliterator could cause a delay that may lead to injury or loss to the individual requiring the interpreting services, provided such emergency assistance does not waive any communication access requirements for any entity pursuant to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as both may be amended from time to time;

(3) An individual engaged in interpreting as part of a supervised internship or practicum in an interpreting program at an accredited college or university or an interpreting mentorship program approved by the department if (A) such interpreting is not in a legal, medical or educational setting, or (B) the individual is accompanied by an interpreter registered pursuant to this section;

(4) An interpreter who is certified by a recognized national professional certifying body such as the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf or a recognized state professional certifying body from outside the state and provides interpreting services in the state for a period of time not exceeding fourteen days during a calendar year;

(5) An interpreter who has received an acceptable credential equivalent or a waiver from the requirements of this section from the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services in accordance with the recommendations of the Interpreting Standards Board pursuant to section 17a-835b; or

(6) An interpreter who is interpreting for an individual who is deafblind, until new standards are adopted for such interpreting pursuant to subsection (k) of this section or a state or national standard is established for protactile language or tactile language interpreting.

(i) Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing persons may exercise their right to request or use a different registered interpreter than the interpreter provided to interpret for such persons in any interpreting setting in accordance with a nationally recognized interpreter code of professional conduct.

(j) Any person who is not registered in accordance with this section who represents himself or herself as an interpreter registered with the Bureau of Services for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and Disability Services, or who engages in wilful or fraudulent misrepresentation of his or her credentials in an attempt to register with the bureau, shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. Failure to renew such registration in a timely manner shall not in and of itself constitute a violation for the purposes of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, “timely manner” means registration renewal not more than thirty days after such registration has expired.

(k) Not later than March 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services shall implement policies and procedures in advance of adopting regulations pursuant to chapter 54 that incorporate new interpreter standards based on the recommendations of the Interpreting Standards Board pursuant to section 17a-835b. The commissioner shall post (1) notice of intent to adopt the regulations on the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after the date of implementation of the policies and procedures, and (2) a prominent link to the policies and procedures on the Internet web site of the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted. The commissioner shall submit such policies and procedures in proposed regulation form to the legislative regulation review committee not later than twelve months following the date of publication of the notice of intent to adopt regulations as provided for in this subsection.