The bill amends RCW 28A.410.271 to establish clearer definitions and standards for educational interpreters in Washington. It defines an "educational interpreter" as a person providing sign language interpretation or transliteration for students who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing. The bill mandates the Professional Educator Standards Board to adopt separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters, identify and publicize educational interpreter assessments, and establish performance standards for these assessments. Additionally, it introduces a certification system that categorizes certificates into limited and full performance standards, with specific validity periods and requirements for educational interpreters.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the timeline for educational interpreters to achieve certification, stating that by the 2027-28 school year, they must obtain a certificate established by the board. It allows for a grace period for those who have not yet achieved the full certification, permitting them to continue providing services under certain conditions. The bill also emphasizes the need for the board to consult with accredited interpreter training programs when implementing these standards and rules. Notably, it excludes certain types of interpreting services from these requirements, such as oral interpreting and computer-assisted real-time captioning, where no suitable assessment exists.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.410.271
Substitute Bill: 28A.410.271
Bill as Passed Legislature: 28A.410.271
Session Law: 28A.410.271