CHAPTER 154E
INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLITERATORS

2004 enactment of this chapter is effective July 1, 2005; transition provisions

relating to the provisional establishment of the board

and to temporary licensure of interpreters; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §432, 433;

2006 Acts, ch 1184, §122

  154E.1  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Board” means the board of sign language interpreters and transliterators established in chapter 147.
  2.  “Consumer” means an individual utilizing interpreting services who uses spoken English, American sign language, or a manual form of English.
  3.  “Department” means the Iowa department of public health.
  4.  “Interpreter training program” means a postsecondary education program training individuals to interpret or transliterate.
  5.  “Interpreting” means facilitating communication between individuals who communicate via American sign language and individuals who communicate via spoken English.
  6.  “Licensee” means any person licensed to practice interpreting or transliterating for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing individuals in the state of Iowa.
  7.  “Transliterating” means facilitating communication between individuals who communicate via a manual form of English and individuals who communicate via spoken English.
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §426, 433; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §150
Referred to in 

  154E.2  Duties of the board.
  The board shall administer this chapter. The board’s duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1.  Adopt rules consistent with this chapter and with chapter 147 which are necessary for the performance of its duties.
  2.  Act on matters concerning licensure and the process of applying for, granting, suspending, imposing supervisory or probationary conditions upon, reinstating, and revoking a license.
  3.  Administer the provisions of this chapter regarding documentation required to demonstrate competence as an interpreter, and the processing of applications for licenses and license renewals.
  4.  Establish and maintain as a matter of public record a registry of interpreters licensed pursuant to this chapter.
  5.  Develop continuing education requirements as a condition of license renewal.
  6.  Evaluate requirements for licensure in other states to determine if reciprocity may be granted.
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §427, 433; 2006 Acts, ch 1155, §12, 15
Nonreversion of unencumbered or unobligated funds appropriated or received as fees or repayment receipts for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending July 1, 2007, until the close of the next succeeding fiscal year; 2006 Acts, ch 1155, §14, 15 

  154E.3  Requirements for licensure.
  On or after July 1, 2005, every person providing interpreting or transliterating services in this state shall be licensed pursuant to this chapter. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapters 17A, 147, and 272C establishing procedures for the licensing of new and existing interpreters. Prior to obtaining licensure, an applicant shall successfully pass an examination prescribed and approved by the board, demonstrating the following:
  1.  Voice-to-sign interpretation.  An applicant shall demonstrate proficiency at:
  a.  Message equivalence:  producing a true and accurate signed form of the spoken message, maintaining the integrity of content and meaning, and exhibiting few omissions, substitutions, or other errors.
  b.  Affect:  producing nonmanual grammar consistent with the intent and emotion of the speaker, and exhibiting no distracting mannerisms.
  c.  Vocabulary choice:  making correct sign choices appropriate to the setting and consumers, applying facial grammar consistent with sign choice, selecting signs that remain true to speaker’s intent, and demonstrating lexical variety.
  d.  Fluency:  displaying confidence in production, exhibiting a strong command of American sign language or manual codes for English, applying nonmanual behaviors consistent with the speaker’s intent, and demonstrating understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences.
  2.  Sign-to-voice interpretation.  An applicant shall demonstrate proficiency at:
  a.  Message equivalence:  producing a true and accurate spoken form of the signed message, maintaining the integrity of content and meaning, and exhibiting few omissions, substitutions, or other errors.
  b.  Affect:  producing inflection consistent with the intent and emotion of the speaker, and exhibiting no distracting mannerisms.
  c.  Vocabulary choice:  making correct word choices appropriate to the setting and consumers, using vocal inflection consistent with word choice, selecting words that remain true to the speaker’s intent, and demonstrating lexical variety.
  d.  Fluency:  displaying confidence in production, exhibiting a strong command of English in both spoken and written forms, applying vocal inflections consistent with the speaker’s intent, and demonstrating understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences.
  3.  Professional conduct.  An applicant shall demonstrate:
  a.  Proficiency in functioning as a communicator of messages between the sender and receiver and educating consumers of services about the functions and logistics of the interpreting process.
  b.  An impartial demeanor, refraining from interjecting opinions or advice and from aligning with one party over another. An applicant shall treat all people fairly and respectfully regardless of their relationship to the interpreting assignment, and present a professional appearance that is not visually distracting and is appropriate to the setting. An applicant shall exhibit knowledge and application of federal and state laws pertaining to the interpreting profession.
  c.  Integrity, and shall be proficient in understanding and applying ethical behavior appropriate for a licensee. An applicant shall demonstrate discretion in accepting and meeting interpreter services requests, and shall engage actively in lifelong learning.
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §428, 433
Referred to in 

  154E.3A  Temporary license.
  Beginning July 1, 2007, an individual who does not meet the requirements for licensure by examination pursuant to section 154E.3 may apply for or renew a temporary license. The temporary license shall authorize the licensee to practice as a sign language interpreter or transliterator under the direct supervision of a sign language interpreter or transliterator licensed pursuant to section 154E.3. The temporary license shall be valid for two years and may only be renewed one time in accordance with standards established by rule. An individual shall not practice for more than a total of four years under a temporary license. The board may revoke a temporary license if it determines that the temporary licensee has violated standards established by rule. The board may adopt requirements for temporary licensure to implement this section.
2006 Acts, ch 1184, §98

  154E.4  Exceptions.
  1.  A person shall not practice interpreting or transliterating, or represent that the person is an interpreter, unless the person is licensed under this chapter.
  2.  This chapter does not prohibit any of the following:
  a.  Any person residing outside of the state of Iowa holding a current license from another state that meets the state of Iowa’s requirements from providing interpreting or transliterating services in this state for up to fourteen days per calendar year without a license issued pursuant to this chapter.
  b.  Any person from interpreting or transliterating solely in a religious setting with the exception of those working in schools that receive government funding.
  c.  Volunteers working without compensation, including emergency situations, until a licensed interpreter is obtained.
  d.  Any person working as a substitute for a licensed interpreter in an early childhood, elementary, or secondary education setting for no more than thirty school days in a calendar year.
  e.  Students enrolled in a school of interpreting from interpreting only under the direct supervision of a permanently licensed interpreter as part of the student’s course of study.
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §429, 433; 2006 Acts, ch 1184, §99; 2007 Acts, ch 22, §41