New Hampshire HB 525: relative to stabilization grants for education.

Bill Text

HB 525-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

 25-0190

 05/09

HOUSE BILL 525-FN

AN ACT transferring administration of the program for the deaf and hard of hearing and the board of licensure of interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing to the office of professional licensure and certification.

SPONSORS: Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

 This bill transfers the program for the deaf and hard of hearing from the department of education, vocational rehabilitation to the advisory board for interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. The bill also transfers board administration and licensing to the office of professional licensure and certification.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 25-0190

 05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT transferring administration of the program for the deaf and hard of hearing and the board of licensure of interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing to the office of professional licensure and certification.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Subparagraph; Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Added. Amend RSA 310:2, II by inserting after subparagraph (ccc) the following new subparagraph:

 (ddd) The advisory board for interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, established in RSA 326-I.

 2 Interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. Amend RSA 326-I:2 through 326-I:7 to read as follows:

 326-I:2 Definitions. In this chapter: 

 I. "Board" means the advisory board of licensure of interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing established in RSA 326-I:3. 

 II. "Deaf" person means a person whose primary communication is visual. 

 III. "Deafblind" person means a person who has a combination of hearing loss and vision loss. A person who uses a combination of visual and/or tactile communication. 

 IV. "Hard-of-hearing" person means a person who has a hearing loss, who may or may not primarily use visual communication, and who may or may not use assistive devices. 

 V. "Intermediary interpreting" means interpreting services rendered by a deaf person between another deaf or deafblind person and another licensed interpreter or between 2 or more deaf or deaf blind persons. 

 VI. "Interpreter" means a person who conveys meaning between people who use signed language and spoken language. 

 VII. "Interpreting" means the act of conveying meaning between people who use signed and/or spoken languages. 

 VIII. "Interpreting organization" means an organization whose function is to provide qualified interpreter services for a fee and who access interpreters licensed under this chapter. 

 VIII-a. "Office" or "OPLC" means the office of professional licensure and certification.

 IX. "Oral deaf" person means a person whose primary communication is speech reading and spoken English. 

 X. "Qualified interpreter" means an interpreter meeting the requirements of this chapter. 

 326-I:3 Board of Licensing for Interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; Administrative Attachment. 

 I. There shall be [a] an advisory board of licensing for interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, each member to be appointed by the governor, with the approval of the council. 

 II. The board shall consist of 9 members as follows: 

 (a) Four licensed interpreters, at least 2 of whom hold national certification, from names submitted by the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in conjunction with the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf. 

 (b) Five consumers, including 3 deaf or deafblind persons from names submitted by the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, one consumer of oral interpreting services, and a non-deaf member of the public not licensed under this chapter. 

 III. No member of the board shall serve concurrently in an elected, appointed, or employed position in any other state-level organization representing interpreters for the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing if it would present a direct conflict of interest. 

 IV.(a) Appointments to the board shall be for 3 years, except that one of the initial interpreter members and one of the initial consumer members shall serve one-year terms, and one of the initial interpreter members and one of the initial consumer members shall serve 2-ye