Summary — HB 6932: “An Act Concerning the Establishment of a State Interpreting Standards Board” (Public Act 25‑144)
Status: Signed by Governor (Public Act No. 25‑144) — signed 2025‑07‑01
Introduced: 2025‑02‑13
Committees: Joint Committee on Human Services; later referred to Appropriations
Analyses requested: Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis
Purpose / Intent
The act creates a State Interpreting Standards Board to develop and oversee professional standards, certification/registration, and complaint/disciplinary processes for interpreters who provide services to deaf, hard‑of‑hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deaf‑blind individuals. The overarching goals are to ensure interpreter competence, protect consumers of interpreting services, and coordinate interpreter standards across state agencies and regulated services (e.g., telecommunications relay, public utilities, and state‑funded programs).
Key provisions (high level)
Note: This summary is based on the bill title, subject classification, and legislative history. For precise statutory text and operative language consult Public Act 25‑144.
Establishment of a State Interpreting Standards Board
- Creates a formal board with membership criteria (e.g., appointed members representing consumers, practicing interpreters, state agencies, and subject‑matter experts).
- Specifies board duties and powers.
Standards and certification/credentialing
- Authorizes the board to adopt minimum qualifications, training and continuing education requirements, and ethical standards for interpreters.
- Provides for a state credential, certificate, or registration process for interpreters (including qualifications for specialized settings such as medical, educational, legal, and broadcast/television).
Complaint, investigation, and discipline
- Establishes a mechanism for filing complaints against interpreters, with processes for investigation and sanctions (e.g., suspension, revocation, reprimand).
- Provides due‑process protections for respondents.
Interagency coordination
- Requires coordination with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (or equivalent), the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Lifeline and telecommunications relay programs, and other state entities that procure or regulate interpreting services.
- May address accessibility of electronic government information, television/closed‑captioning standards, and relay service oversight.
Reporting and oversight
- Directs the board to prepare reports to the governor and legislature on standards, enforcement actions, and workforce issues.
Who is affected
- Primary: Sign language and spoken language interpreters working in Connecticut (including those serving deaf, hard‑of‑hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deaf‑blind individuals).
- Secondary: Consumers who rely on interpreting services (clients, students, patients), state agencies that contract for or regulate interpreting services, educational and healthcare providers, courts, broadcasters, and telecommunications/relay programs.
- Employers and vendors providing interpreting services may need to comply with new credentialing, training, recordkeeping, or procurement requirements.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Bill introduced 2025‑02‑13; public hearing 02/20/25; went through committee and appropriations review; passed both chambers with amendments in late May/early June 2025.
- Transmitted to Secretary of the State and the Governor in late June 2025, signed into law on 2025‑07‑01 and enacted as Public Act 25‑144.
- The act may specify effective dates, implementation phases, or rulemaking authority for the board; consult the enacted Public Act text for exact timelines and any required agency rulemaking or fiscal appropriations.
Where to find the enacted text
For the precise statutory language, membership details, enforcement mechanisms, effective date(s), and any fiscal provisions, see Public Act 25‑144 (HB 6932) on the Connecticut General Assembly or state Public Acts website and the Office of Legislative Research/Office of Fiscal Analysis reports prepared during enactment.
