Senate File 244
SENATE FILE
BY BOLKCOM and DVORSKY
(COMPANION TO LSB 2688HH
BY BODDICKER)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the provision of a statewide dual party relay
2 telephone service.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2688XS 80
5 rn/cf/24
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 477C.1, Code 2003, is amended to read
1 2 as follows:
1 3 477C.1 DUAL PARTY RELAY SERVICE AND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION
1 4 PROGRAM == PURPOSE.
1 5 The general assembly finds that the provision of a
1 6 statewide dual party relay service and equipment distribution
1 7 program will further the public interest and protect the
1 8 health, safety, and welfare of the people of Iowa through an
1 9 increase in the usefulness and availability of the telephone
1 10 system. Many persons who are deaf, hard=of=hearing, or have
1 11 speech, mobility, cognitive, or other sensory or physical
1 12 impairments are not able to utilize the telephone system
1 13 without this type of service these services. Therefore, it is
1 14 the purpose of this chapter to enable the orderly development,
1 15 operation, promotion, and funding of a statewide dual party
1 16 relay service and an equipment distribution program designed
1 17 to serve the needs of persons with a communication impairment.
1 18 Sec. 2. Section 477C.2, Code 2003, is amended to read as
1 19 follows:
1 20 477C.2 DEFINITIONS.
1 21 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
1 22 requires:
1 23 1. "Board" means the utilities board within the department
1 24 of commerce created in section 474.1.
1 25 2. "Communication impairment" means the inability to use
1 26 the telephone for communication without a telecommunications
1 27 device for the deaf.
1 28 3. 2. "Council" means the dual party relay council
1 29 established in section 477C.5.
1 30 4. 3. "Dual party relay service" or "relay service" means
1 31 a communication service which provides communication=impaired
1 32 persons with a communication impairment access to the
1 33 telephone system functionally equivalent to the access
1 34 available to persons who do not communication=impaired have a
1 35 communication impairment.
2 1 4. "Person with a communication impairment" means an
2 2 individual who is deaf, hard=of=hearing, or has a speech,
2 3 mobility, cognitive, or other sensory or physical impairment
2 4 that limits the individual's ability to use or access the
2 5 telephone system.
2 6 5. "Telecommunications device for the deaf" means any
2 7 specialized, or supplemental telephone, or adapted equipment
2 8 used by communication=impaired persons a person with a
2 9 communication impairment to provide use or access to the
2 10 telephone system.
2 11 Sec. 3. Section 477C.4, Code 2003, is amended to read as
2 12 follows:
2 13 477C.4 TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE DEAF ==
2 14 DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
2 15 With the advice of the council, the board may plan,
2 16 establish, administer, and promote a program to secure,
2 17 finance, and distribute telecommunications devices for the
2 18 deaf. The board may establish eligibility criteria for
2 19 persons to receive telecommunications devices for the deaf,
2 20 including, but not limited to, requiring certification that
2 21 the recipient cannot use the telephone for communication
2 22 without a telecommunications device for the deaf.
2 23 Sec. 4. Section 477C.5, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
2 24 2003, is amended to read as follows:
2 25 a. Six consumers who have with a communication impairments
2 26 impairment.
2 27 EXPLANATION
2 28 This bill relates to the provision of a statewide dual
2 29 party relay service.
2 30 The bill provides for changes in terminology used and the
2 31 objectives stated in Code chapter 477C dealing with the
2 32 statewide dual party relay service. The bill adds the phrase
2 33 "equipment distribution program" to Code section 477C.1,
2 34 regarding the purpose of the chapter, to provide that both the
2 35 dual party relay service, and equipment to enable the service
3 1 to be accessed, are being provided for in the chapter, and
3 2 makes a similar addition to Code section 477C.4 regarding
3 3 distribution of telecommunications devices for the deaf. The
3 4 bill provides that a "person with a communication impairment"
3 5 refers to an individual who is deaf, hard=of=hearing, or has a
3 6 speech, mobility, cognitive, or any other sensory or physical
3 7 impairment that limits an individual's ability to use or
3 8 access the telephone system. The bill provides for the
3 9 addition of "adapted" telephone equipment to the definition of
3 10 a "telecommunications device for the deaf".
3 11 LSB 2688XS 80
3 12 rn/cf/24