Section 2408 - Definitions As used in the Oklahoma Legal Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Act:
1. "Deaf person" or "hard-of-hearing person" means an individual whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life, and also may include a person who is deaf-blind, meaning a deaf or hard-of-hearing person whose vision is also nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life;2. "Qualified legal interpreter" means: a. an individual certified by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters, orb.(1) an individual who possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately and impartially interpret spoken English into the equivalent visual languages and modes, and currently certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) as one of the following: (a) Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L). In the event none are available, then(b) Another RID national certification, including, but not limited to, the National Interpreter Certification (NIC), Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI & CT), or Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), (2) an individual who possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately and impartially transliterate for a person who is oral or nonsigning using the equivalent oral or captioned mode, and is currently certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as one of the following: (a) Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L). In the event none are available, then
(b) Another RID national certification, including, but not limited to, the NIC, Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI & CT), or Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), (c) In the event none are available, or at the request of the deaf individual, then a recognized national or state certifying body of captionists, or a court reporter who is able to provide real time captioning, or(3) an individual who:(a) is deaf or hard-of-hearing who possesses the knowledge, skills, specialized training and experience to enhance communication with persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and whose communication modes are so unique that they cannot be adequately assessed by interpreters who are hearing, and(b) holds the following qualifications as a deaf interpreter: National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI); in the event none are available, then an Oklahoma QAST Deaf Evaluator may be utilized; and3. "Appointing authority" means any court, department, board, commission, agency, licensing authority, political subdivision or municipality of the state.Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 2408
Amended by Laws 2023 , c. 179, s. 1, eff. 11/1/2023.Added by Laws 1982, SB 490, c. 290, § 2, eff. 5/21/1982; Amended by Laws 2005 , HB , c. 395, §2, eff. 11/1/2005.