Title XII, PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

209.170. October fifteenth to be white cane safety day, governor to note. — Each year, the governor shall take suitable public notice of October fifteenth as "White Cane Safety Day". ­­-------- (L. 1977 S.B. 12)

209.180. State and its political subdivisions and tax money recipients to employ visually handicapped on same terms as other employees, exception. — The blind and the visually handicapped shall be employed in the state service, the service of the political subdivisions of the sta…

209.190. Housing accommodations, defined — discrimination against persons with visual, hearing or physical disabilities, prohibited — dogs, guide, hearing or service to have full access — liability for actual damages. — 1. Blind or visually handicapped persons, deaf or partially …

209.192. Definitions — blind literacy study — division of special education to make annual report. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Blind persons or visually impaired persons", individuals who: (a) Have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better e…

209.200. Definitions. — As used in sections 209.150 to 209.204, not to exceed the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Disability", as defined in section 213.010 including diabetes; (2) "Service dog", a dog that is being or has b…

209.202. Crime of causing substantial injury to or the death of a service dog, penalty — failure to control an animal that causes substantial injury to or the death of a service dog, penalty — harassment of a service dog, penalty — damages. — 1. Any person who knowingly, intentio…

209.204. Impersonating a person with a disability for the purpose of receiving certain accommodations, penalty, civil liability — misrepresentation of dog as service dog, penalty, civil liability — misrepresentation of animal as assistance animal, penalty, civil liability — placa…

209.240. Amount of pension — need, how determined. — 1. The family support division shall, for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation in aid to the blind payments, prepare a budget taking into consideration the necessary expenses in accordance with standards dev…

209.245. Financial assistance for obtaining hearing aids, program established — fund created — powers of commission. — 1. Subject to appropriations, the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing shall establish a statewide hearing aid distribution program to provide fi…

209.247. Communications access services program established — definitions — commission duties — fund, use of moneys — rules. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Commission", the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing; (2) "Communication acce…

209.251. Definitions. — As used in sections 209.251 to 209.259, the following terms mean: (1) "Adaptive telecommunications equipment", equipment that translates, enhances or otherwise transforms the receiving or sending of telecommunications into a form accessible to individuals …

209.253. Statewide dual-party relay system, establishment by PSC — advisory assistive technology council to administer — rulemaking authority. — 1. The commission shall provide a statewide dual-party system, using third-party intervention to connect deaf, hearing-impaired and spe…

209.255. Rate established to recover costs of programs — surcharge, limitations, collection — exemption from taxes. — 1. The commission shall establish a rate recovery mechanism to recover the costs of implementing and maintaining the programs provided for in section 209.253, whi…

209.257. Telephone company to deduct percentage to cover cost — percentage determined by PSC — money collected, deposit — use of deaf relay service fund. — The local exchange telephone company shall deduct and retain a percentage of the total surcharge amount collected each month…

209.258. Deaf relay service fund established, purpose — deposit — unexpended balance not to be transferred to general revenue — commission and advisory assistive technology council to request appropriations from fund for service delivery. — 1. All remaining deaf relay service and…

209.259. Review of surcharge and deduction percentage — recommendation procedures — surcharge adjusted when — excess funds, effective. — 1. From the date of implementing the deaf relay service and equipment distribution fund surcharge, the commission shall review such surcharge n…

209.260. Telecommunications companies responsibility for quality of services, individuals with disabilities. — Telecommunications companies shall ensure, if readily achievable as defined by federal law 42 U.S.C.A. section 12181(9), that high quality existing and new telecommunica…

209.261. Definitions. — As used in sections 209.261 to 209.265, the following terms mean: (1) "Auxiliary aids and services", the device or service that the deaf person feels would best serve him which includes, but is not limited to, interpreters, notetakers, transcription servic…

209.263. Person relaying conversation not to disclose contents, exception — order to disclose — privilege. — 1. A person who interprets, transliterates or relays a conversation between a person who can hear and a deaf person is deemed a conduit for the conversation and may not di…

209.265. No disclosure of conversation without permission — penalty. — 1. An auxiliary aids and services provider or relay agent who is employed to interpret, transliterate or relay a conversation between a person who can hear and a person who is deaf or speech impaired shall not…

209.285. Definitions. — As used in sections 209.285 to 209.339, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms mean: (1) "American sign language", a visual-gestural system of communication that has its own syntax, rhetoric and grammar. American sign language i…

209.287. Board for certification of interpreters established — appointment, qualification, terms — expenses — meetings — chairman elected how — quorum — removal from office, procedure. — 1. There is hereby established within the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearin…

209.289. Coordinator to be hired, qualifications, salary and expenses. — The executive director shall hire a coordinator, who shall serve as coordinator of the Missouri interpreters certification system. The coordinator shall have a background in interpreter testing and interpret…

209.292. Commission's powers and duties. — The commission shall: (1) Prescribe qualifications for each of the several levels of certification based on proficiency and shall evaluate and certify interpreters using such qualifications; (2) Issue the certificates, bearing the signat…

209.295. Rules and regulations, authority to promulgate, duties of commission. — The commission may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to, but not limited to: (1) The form and content of certification applications and the procedures for filing an application for an initi…

209.297. Applications for certification, content, oath — fee not refundable — applicant to be given date for evaluation. — 1. Applications for certification as an interpreter: (1) Shall be submitted in writing to the commission on forms prescribed by the commission and furnished …

209.299. Evaluations to be held where and when — coordinator to notify applicants of score. — The commission shall schedule evaluations for persons seeking certification, at a central location, at least four times each year in 1995 and 1996, and at least twice a year thereafter, …

209.302. Eligibility for evaluation. — An evaluation shall be available to the following, including, but not limited to: (1) New interpreters; (2) Uncertified, qualified interpreters; (3) Certified interpreters, advancing to another certification level; (4) An interpreter who is …

209.305. Evaluations, subjects to be covered — confidentiality of tests and records. — 1. The evaluation shall be an assessment of interpreter's language skills, expressive and receptive skills, professionalism, knowledge of interpreting and ethical practices. Modes of communicat…

209.307. Conflict of interest for evaluation team, effect. — Any member of an evaluation team who has a conflict of interest that may have a direct effect on an evaluation shall excuse himself or herself from the evaluation. The remaining members shall assess that individual's pe…

209.309. Provisional certificates issued when — limitation — requirements — extension granted when. — The commission may offer provisional certification to interpreters achieving a minimal level of certification established by the commission. A provisional certification is limite…

209.311. Fees, how established. — The commission may charge fees for application, administration of an evaluation, renewal of a certificate, conversion and recordkeeping. The fees shall be in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the evaluation and certification program. ­­-…

209.314. Grievances on evaluation, procedure. — The commission shall provide an opportunity to hear grievances against the evaluation process or members of the assessment team pursuant to the administrative process in chapter 621. ­­-------- (L. 1994 S.B. 568 § 6 subsec. 10)

209.317. Certificate may be suspended, denied or revoked — hearing procedure. — 1. The commission may suspend, deny or revoke a certificate if an interpreter: (1) Impersonates another person holding interpreter certification; (2) Allows another person to use the interpreter's cer…

209.318. Fund for certification of interpreters established, purpose — lapse into general revenue when — first fiscal year, commission's expenses, how paid. — 1. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to be known as the "Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard…

209.319. State committee of interpreters to be established in division of professional registration, appointment, qualifications, terms, compensation — vacancies — quorum — meetings. — 1. There is hereby established in the division of professional registration the "Missouri State…

209.321. License required to practice interpreting — certain professions exempt — practice to be limited to training and education — not considered interpreting, when — out-of-state licensees, temporary interpreting permitted — provisional licensure, criteria. — 1. No person shal…

209.322. Certificates recognized by the commission. — The commission shall recognize the following certificates: (1) National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (NRID) certificates, which include Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), Certificate of Interpreting/Certificate o…

209.323. License application forms, content, oath, fee not refundable, qualifications, licenses expire, when — reinstatement procedure — replacement of license lost or destroyed. — 1. Applications for licensure as an interpreter shall be submitted to the division on forms prescri…

209.324. Criminal background check, fingerprint submission. — 1. The state committee of interpreters may require that fingerprint submissions be made as part of an application seeking licensure as an interpreter, as such term is defined in section 209.285, and temporary interpret…

209.326. Temporary license issued to persons licensed in other states, procedure, fee limitation. — Any person who holds a valid unrevoked and unexpired license or certification as an interpreter issued by a state or organization other than this state and recognized by the commit…

209.328. Ethical rules of conduct established by rules, duties of committee — other rules authorized. — 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 209.319 to 209.339, the committee may adopt rules and regulations, not otherwise inconsistent with sections 209.319 to 209.33…

209.331. Procedure to adopt rules. — No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of sections 209.285 to 209.339 shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024. ­­-------- (L. 1994 S.B. 568 § 14, A.L. 1995 S.B. …

209.332. State committee of interpreters fund established, purpose — transfer to general revenue, when — profession of interpreter not to be subject to taxation or licensing fees by municipalities. — 1. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to be known as the "…

209.334. Refusal to issue or renew license, grounds, complaint procedure — reinstatement procedure. — 1. The committee may refuse to issue or renew any license required by the provisions of sections 209.319 to 209.339 for one or any combination of causes stated in subsection 2 of…

209.337. Violations, penalty — injunction granted when — venue. — 1. A violation of any provision of sections 209.319 to 209.339 is a class A misdemeanor. 2. All fees or other compensation received for services rendered in violation of sections 209.319 to 209.339 shall be refunde…