New York S 1808: Relates to the licensing of sign language interpreters and creates a state board for sign language interpreting

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S01808 Summary:

BILL NOS01808 

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SAME ASSAME AS A02668

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SPONSORFERNANDEZ

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 169 §§8900 - 8905, Ed L

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Relates to the licensing of sign language interpreters; creates a state board for sign language interpreting.

Go to top S01808 Actions:

BILL NOS01808 

&nbsp

01/14/2025REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Go to topS01808 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS01808 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS01808 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 1808

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 14, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of sign
 language interpreters and creating a state board for sign language
 interpreting

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 169 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 169
 4 SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
 5 Section 8900. Introduction.
 6 8901. Definitions.
 7 8902. Practice of sign language interpreting.
 8 8903. State board for sign language interpreting.
 9 8904. Licensing requirements.
 10 8905. Exempt persons.
 11 § 8900. Introduction. This article applies to the profession of sign
 12 language interpreter. The general provisions for all professions
 13 contained in article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this
 14 article.
 15 § 8901. Definitions. As used in this article:
 16 (1) "Client" shall mean a deaf, hard of hearing or hearing person for
 17 whom an interpreter provides sign language interpretation services or
 18 who is applying to be assessed for the purpose of qualifying for a
 19 license that will allow such interpreter to provide sign language inter-
 20 pretation services.
 21 (2) "Board" shall mean the board for sign language interpreting.
 22 § 8902. Practice of sign language interpreting. (1) Only a person
 23 licensed or otherwise authorized under this article shall practice sign

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05197-01-5

 S. 1808 2

 1 language interpreting or use the title of sign language interpreter for
 2 compensation.
 3 (2) No person may, for compensation, provide sign language interpreta-
 4 tion services for a client unless the person is licensed by the depart-
 5 ment.
 6 § 8903. State board for sign language interpreting. (1) A state board
 7 for sign language interpreting shall be appointed by the board of
 8 regents on recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of assist-
 9 ing the board of regents and the department on matters of professional
 10 licensing and professional conduct in accordance with section sixty-five
 11 hundred eight of this title. The board shall consist of not less than
 12 ten members who shall serve three year terms and shall have a familiar-
 13 ity with deaf or hard of hearing matters. Such members shall include:
 14 (a) six deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are currently or have
 15 previously been clients of a sign language interpreter, one of whom
 16 shall be the executive director of the office of professions or a desig-
 17 nee of the commissioner; and
 18 (b) four sign language interpreters who have been licensed under
 19 section eighty-nine hundred four of this article, at least one of whom
 20 holds a professional license.
 21 (2) In order to maintain high-quality operation of the executive board
 22 and also effective implementation of the policy, one highly knowledge-
 23 able deaf person may be appointed to the board from out of state, yet
 24 working in the state of New York.
 25 (3) The board shall promulgate:
 26 (a) a code of ethics for sign language interpreters licensed under
 27 this article;
 28 (b) rules for granting licensing exemptions under section eighty-nine
 29 hundred five of this article;
 30 (c) industry standards for the licensing of sign language interpret-
 31 ers;
 32 (d) guidelines for the administration of t