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Passed by the 90th General Assembly of the State of Illinois, July 24, 1997

Section 1.  Short title.  This Act may be cited as the Interpreters for the Deaf Act.

Section 5.  Qualifications.

        a) no person may represent himself or herself as an interpreter for the deaf, work as a professional interpreter for the deaf, or use the title "interpreter for the deaf" or a similar title in this State unless he or she can show proof of:
                1) a certificate issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
                2) a satisfactory evaluation by the National Assocation of the Deaf (NAD)
                3) a satisfactory Interpreter Skills Assessment Screening (ISAS) evaluation; or
                4) licensure or certification or a satisfactory evaluation or screening in another state.

        b) A person practicing as an interpreter for the deaf under this Act shall register with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission within one year of the formation of that commission or the commencement of practice, whichever is later.

Section 10.  The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.

        Within two years of its formation in this State, the Deaf and hard of Hearing Commission whall work with the State Board of Education to develop standards for further qualification of educational interpreters in this State.

Section 15.  Exemptions.

        A person working as an interpreter for the deaf in a religious organization shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 5. Educational interpreters and certified teachers of the deaf performing interpreting within the scope of their duties shall also be exempt from this Act unless required by thier particular school district.

Section 99.  Effective date.

        This Act takes effect upon becoming law.