ad hoc Committee on Licensure

Just 18 days into the new year, the DC Council held their Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting. One of the agenda items included introduction of new bills. There has been discussion among PCRID members about what is going on with licensure in DC, and there will be further news as we are made aware of the progression of events.

The bill introduced on Tuesday by Councilmember Cheh is not about licensure of interpreters. Instead, it is an amendment to other pieces of legislation that focus on access for deaf and hard-of-hearing people receiving services from DC Government funding sources, including interpreting services. While definitely applies to our profession, there is no mention of licensure. This doesn’t mean there aren’t concerns about this bill and its potential impact when and if it becomes law. Therefore, an ad hoc committee on licensure is now being established to look at this bill in preparation for the process of public participation at an as yet undisclosed meeting date. The committee will also look at any potential licensure bill being introduced.

Already, a number of people representing stakeholder groups have been engaged in discussion. Among those already involved are MDAD President Charm Smith, DCAD President David Nelson, PCRID Liaison to DCAD Bethany Melanson, PCRID Member at Large Erin Harrison, and numerous others including Andrea K. Smith and Jen Bell.

If you would like to be part of this ad hoc committee, please contact our point person on this new committee, Andrea K. Smith, at legislativeaffairs@pcrid.net. This invitation is primarily to PCRID members, but other stakeholders are invited to weigh in on the issue so we aren’t working in a vacuum. Collaboration with stakeholders is vital on the issue of providing ‘qualified’ interpreters.

As we move forward, lets all bear in mind our mission: PCRID is committed to advancing the quality, professionalism, and integrity of sign language interpreting in Maryland and the District of Columbia through education, information, and advocacy.

Thank you for participating in this process.

Michael