PURPOSE: This rule describes the authority and requirements of the Board for Certification of Interpreters.

1. (1) There shall be established within the Missouri Commission for the Deaf a Board for Certification of Interpreters, which shall be composed of five (5) members. The executive director of the Commission for the Deaf or his/her designee shall be a nonvoting member of the board.
2. (2) The members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate from a list of recommendations from the commission. The board shall elect from its membership a chairperson and a secretary. A quorum of the board shall consist of three
3. (3) of its members.
4. (3) The board shall meet as often as necessary, but not less than two (2) times per year.

5. (4) The mission of the Board for Certification of Interpreters, with the approval of the commission, is to protect the citizens of the state through the certification of interpreters, thus evaluating their competence to practice. In addition, the board wishes to increase the pool of interpreters, maintain the quality of interpreting services and establish clear standards of professionalism in the profession.

   1. (A) The board will attempt to achieve this goal through prescribing the qualifications for each of the several levels of permit or certification based on proficiency and shall evaluate interpreters using such qualifications.

6. (5) The public may obtain information, make submissions or direct requests to the board or commission by communications in writing or phoning the Missouri Commission for the Deaf.

   1. (A) All public records of the board shall be open for inspection and copying by the general public during normal business hours, except for those records closed pursuant to section 610.021, RSMo. All public meetings of the board and commission, not closed pursuant to the provisions of section 610.021, RSMo, shall be open to any member of the public.
   2. (B) The board appoints the coordinator as the custodian of its records. The coordinator is responsible for the maintenance of the board’s records and is responsible for responding to requests for access to public records.
   3. (C) The board shall maintain a record containing copies of all written requests for access to records and responses to these requests. Requests shall be maintained on file with the board for a period of one (1) year and will be maintained as a public record of the board open for inspection by any member of the general public during regular business hours. Requests for copies of records may be performed by the staff for a fee. See 5 CSR 100-200.150 Fees.
   4. (D) All records kept in the office of the commission, under the authority of Chapter 209, RSMo shall be open to public inspection under such regulations as the commission may prescribe, provided that records compiled in connection with the investigation of a complaint against an interpreter which could result in discipline of the certification or compiled for the purpose of processing applications for certification, are deemed to be confidential and therefore not subject to inspection by the public.
   5. (E) It shall be improper for a board member or commissioner to discuss with any person, except members of the board, commission, commission’s staff, committee, committee’s staff or counsel for any of these agencies, any matter which is confidential, including one of a disciplinary nature which is pending before the Missouri Commission for the Deaf or the Administrative Hearing Commission.
7. (6) Individuals wishing to participate in board meetings should contact the Missouri Commission for the Deaf.

AUTHORITY: sections 209.287 and 209.292, RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed June 20, 1996, effective Jan. 30, 1997. Amended: Filed May 14, 1997, effective Dec. 30, 1997. *Original authority 1994.