Section 77.03. Definitions.

  In this chapter:

(1)  "Agency" means any private or public organization.

(2)  "Certification of interpretation" means a document issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf that testifies to the proficiency of the holder in interpretation between American sign language and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign.

(3)  "Certification of transliteration" means a document issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf that testifies to the proficiency of the holder in transliteration between English-based sign language and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign.

(4)  "Certified deaf interpreter" means a deaf or hard of hearing person who:

(a) Interprets in a broad range of settings in situations where a deaf consumer may benefit from the services of a deaf interpreter; and

(b) Holds a document issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf that testifies to the holder's interpreting proficiency.

(5)  "Certified deaf interpreter: provisional" means a deaf or hard of hearing person who has training and at least one year's interpreting experience and is awaiting certification from the registry of interpreters for the deaf.

(6)  "Certified communication access services provider" or "certified provider" means a person who has been awarded a certificate of interpreting proficiency by the registry of interpreters for the deaf, inc., the national association of the deaf or national court reporters association or other nationally recognized certification organization.

(7)  "Communication access services" means any assistance provided by a person trained to increase the ability of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person to communicate with others.

(8)  "Communication access services provider" or "provider" means a person who provides assistance to a deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing person that increases the ability of that person to communicate with others.

(9)  "Communication technology" means a device used as a medium to transfer audible or text words from a person speaking or typing the words to a person using a device to perceive the words.

(10)  "Comprehensive skills certificate" means a document issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf that testifies to a person's proficiency in both transliterating and interpreting in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign.

(11)  "Deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person" means a person who, because of some pathological or functional cause, requires communication access services.

(12)  "Department" means the Wisconsin department of health services or its designated administrative agency.

(13)  "Emergency" means a situation in which the life, liberty, health or property of a deaf or hard of hearing person or a member of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing person's family is in immediate danger.

(14)  "Final payment" means financial compensation by the department to a person or communication access services coordination agency providing communication access services and which the department will not seek to recover by billing a person or agency.

(15)  "Level 3, 4 or 5 rating" means gradations of competency awarded by the national association of the deaf, with the highest number designating the holder's ability to master interpreting situations with minimal difficulty.

(16)  "National association of the deaf" is an organization that promotes, protects, and preserves the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the U.S. and certifies persons to be communication access services providers through its assessment and certification program.

(17)  "National court reporters association" is an organization that advances the profession of those who capture and integrate the spoken word into a comprehensive and accurate information base for the benefit of the public and private sectors through ethical standards, testing and certification, educational opportunities, communications, government relations, research and analysis, and fiscal responsibility.

(18)  "Non-profit organization" means an organization exempt from federal income taxation under 26 USC 501 .

(19)  "Real-time captioning" means technology that simultaneously processes spoken-word English into readable English.

(20)  "Registry of interpreters for the deaf" means a national membership organization that tests and certifies persons who provide sign language interpreting and transliterating services for deaf and hard of hearing persons.

(21)  "Specialist certificate legal" means a document issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf that testifies to the proficiency of a person in legal interpreting.

(22)  "Transliterating services" means representing in letters or words English-based sign language and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign.

(23)  "Verified interpreter" means a person who has been awarded recognition as having a level 1 or 2 interpreting proficiency by the Wisconsin interpreting and transliterating assessment.

(24)  "Wisconsin interpreting and transliterating assessment" means a program administered by the department to determine and verify the level of competence of communication access services providers who are not certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf, inc., the national association of the deaf or national court reporters association or other nationally recognized certification organization.

History: CR 99-009 : cr. Register November 2002 No. 563 , eff. 12-1-02; correction in (12) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .