Section 23-1.8-1. – Purpose — Creation of commission.

§ 23-1.8-1. Purpose — Creation of commission. (a) In view of the barriers and disadvantages which deafness and hearing impairments impose on those individuals so affected, and in view of the testimony on deafness received by a legislative study commission, it is hereby proposed that a permanent Rhode Island commission on the deaf and hard-of-hearing […]

Section 23-1.8-2. – Duties — Activities.

§ 23-1.8-2. Duties — Activities. The commission shall be primarily a coordinating and advocating body, acting on behalf of the special concerns of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in Rhode Island. Its activities shall be independent of any existing agency or department within the state. The commission shall be accountable directly to the executive office of […]

Section 23-1.8-2.1. – Sign language interpreter referral service.

§ 23-1.8-2.1. Sign language interpreter referral service. The commission shall administer the sign language interpreter referral service for all certified licensee, licensee, grandparent licensee, and special licensee interpreters, as provided in chapter 71 of title 5, who hold a valid interpreter for the deaf license issued by the state board of examiners of interpreters for […]

Section 23-1.8-3. – Committees.

§ 23-1.8-3. Committees. (a) To assist in the performance of its duties the commission shall establish various committees. Except as authorized by the commission, committees shall be composed of no more than seven (7) members who shall serve staggered terms. (b) At least one individual who is deaf, one individual who is hard-of-hearing, and one […]

Section 23-1.8-4. – Emergency and public communication access account.

§ 23-1.8-4. Emergency and public communication access account. (a) There is established within the general fund the emergency and public communication access restricted receipt account, which shall be referred to as the EPCA account. The purpose of this account is to fund emergency communication and enhance public communication access for deaf and hard of hearing […]

Section 23-1.8-5. – Communication access services.

§ 23-1.8-5. Communication access services. A state employee who is approved by the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing as an interpreter or a communication access realtime translation (CART) provider may be employed by the commission or by other state agencies as long as the interpreter and CART services: (1) Are provided outside […]