209.285. Definitions.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

Definitions.

209.285. As used in sections 209.285 to 209.339, unless the contextclearly requires otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1) "American sign language", a visual-gestural system ofcommunication that has its own syntax, rhetoric and grammar. American signlanguage is recognized, accepted and used by many deaf Americans. Thisnative language represents concepts rather than words;

(2) "Board", the Missouri board for certification of interpreters,established within the commission in section 209.287;

(3) "Certification", a document issued by the Missouri commission forthe deaf and hard of hearing declaring that the holder is qualified topractice interpreting at a disclosed level;

(4) "Commission", the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard ofhearing;

(5) "Committee", the Missouri state committee of interpreters,established in section 209.319;

(6) "Conversion levels", the process of granting levels ofcertification by the commission to individuals holding certification fromanother state or within another certification system in this state oranother state;

(7) "Coordinator", a staff person, hired by the executive director ofthe Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, who shall serveas coordinator for the Missouri interpreter certification system;

(8) "Deaf person", any person who is not able to discriminate speechwhen spoken in a normal conversational tone regardless of the use ofamplification devices;

(9) "Department", the department of insurance, financial institutionsand professional registration;

(10) "Director", the director of the division of professionalregistration;

(11) "Division", the division of professional registration;

(12) "Executive director", the executive director of the Missouricommission for the deaf and hard of hearing;

(13) "Interpreter", any person who offers to render interpretingservices implying that he or she is trained, and experienced ininterpreting, and holds a current, valid certification and license topractice interpreting in this state; provided that a telecommunicationsoperator providing deaf relay service or a person providing operatorservices for the deaf shall not be considered to be an interpreter;

(14) "Interpreter trainer", a person, certified and licensed by thestate of Missouri as an interpreter, who trains new interpreters in thetranslating of spoken English or written concepts to any necessaryspecialized vocabulary used by a deaf consumer. Necessary specializedvocabularies include, but are not limited to, American sign language,Pidgin Signed English, oral, tactile sign and language deficient skills;

(15) "Interpreting", the translating of English spoken or writtenconcepts to any necessary specialized vocabulary used by a deaf person orthe translating of a deaf person's specialized vocabulary to English spokenor written concepts; provided that a telecommunications operator providingdeaf relay service or a person providing operator services for the deafshall not be considered to be interpreting. Necessary specializedvocabularies include, but are not limited to, American sign language,Pidgin Signed English, oral, tactile sign and language deficient skills;

(16) "Language deficient", mode of communication used by deafindividuals who lack crucial language components, including, but notlimited to, vocabulary, language concepts, expressive skills, languageskills and receptive skills;

(17) "Missouri commission for the deaf", Missouri commission for thedeaf and hard of hearing established in section 161.400;

(18) "Oral", mode of communication having characteristics of speech,speech reading and residual hearing as a primary means of communicationusing situational and culturally appropriate gestures, without the use ofsign language;

(19) "Pidgin Signed English", a mode of communication havingcharacteristics of American sign language;

(20) "Practice of interpreting", rendering or offering to render orsupervise those who render to individuals, couples, groups, organizations,institutions, corporations, schools, government agencies or the generalpublic any interpreting service involving the translation of any mode ofcommunication used by a deaf person to spoken English or of spoken Englishto a mode of communication used by a deaf person;

(21) "Tactile sign", mode of communication, used by deaf and blindindividuals, using any one or a combination of the following: tactilesign, constricted space sign or notetaking.