|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Matt Bradford |
|
Bradford bill to keep sign language interpreters in Pa. passes House
HARRISBURG, May 12 – The state House today passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, that would help retain sign language interpreters in Pennsylvania.
Currently, sign language interpreters and transliterators must obtain state registration to provide sign language services in the Commonwealth.
Bradford said he thinks the state needs to do a better job of helping new graduates of sign language interpreter programs get on-the-job experience after graduating. The lawmaker said without his bill (H.B. 916), some inexperienced but trained sign language interpreters may leave the state, leaving hearing-impaired residents of Pennsylvania at a disadvantage when they need sign language services.
"We have made it too difficult for new graduates to become state-registered," Bradford said. "We should be doing a better job of helping graduates of sign language interpreter programs, who have the skills but not the work experience, get the work experience necessary to then become state-registered. Otherwise, these people will continue leaving Pennsylvania for interpreter jobs in other states that have more reasonable registration expectations."
Bradford's legislation would amend the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act to provide a one-year provisional state registration to recent graduates of interpreter education programs with an associate's degree or higher who pass a written exam and meet applicable qualifications.
Bradford said he believes temporary provisional registrations would help graduates get the experience necessary to become fully state registered in Pennsylvania rather than leaving for jobs elsewhere, while helping hearing-impaired people gain access to qualified interpreters.
House Bill 916 now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
###