161.405. Commission to function as agency of state--purpose--powers and duties. - Missouri Statutes

Commission to function as agency of state--purpose--powers and duties.

161.405. The commission shall function as an agency of the state toadvocate public policies, regulations and programs to improve the qualityand coordination of existing services for deaf and hard of hearing personsand to promote new services whenever necessary. The commission shall:

(1) Promote deaf awareness to the general public and serve as aconsultant to any public agency needing information regarding deafness;

(2) Develop a system of state certification for those individualsserving as interpreters of the deaf by:

(a) Conducting evaluations; and

(b) Developing a fee scale for different classes of interpreters;

(3) Maintain the quality of interpreting services by:

(a) Conducting interpreter training workshops to update knowledge andskills; and

(b) Working closely with the institutions of higher education whichprovide, or plan to provide, instructional programs for learning signlanguage;

(4) Conduct and maintain a census of the deaf population in Missouri;

(5) Promote the development of a plan which advocates the initiationof improved physical and mental health services for deaf Missourians;

(6) Conduct or make available workshops or seminars as needed foreducating nondeaf individuals of the problems associated with deafness andways by which these groups or agencies can more effectively interact withthose who are deaf;

(7) Promote the development of services for deaf and hard of hearingadults, such as shelter homes, independent living skill training facilitiesand postschool educational training which will help provide for those deafand hard of hearing individuals requiring such services an opportunity tolive independently;

(8) Establish a network for effective communication among the deafadult community and promote the establishment of TDD relay services whereneeded;

(9) Develop and establish interpreting services for state agencies.

(L. 1988 H.B. 1385 § 3, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1044 merged with S.B. 568, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1783)