Effective 28 Aug 2002

476.750. Definitions. — As used in sections 476.750 to 476.766, the following terms mean:

(1) "Auxiliary aids and services", the device or service that the deaf person feels would best serve him or her which includes, but is not limited to, qualified interpreters, notetakers, transcription services, written materials, assistive listening devices, assistive listening systems, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, videotext displays or other effective method of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing loss as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, P.L. 101-336, as amended;

(2) "Deaf person", any person who, because of a hearing loss, is not able to discriminate speech when spoken in a normal conversational tone regardless of the use of amplification devices;

(3) "Designated responsible authority", the presiding officer, chairman, hearing officer, judge, clerk or similar official in any court, board, commission, department, agency or legislative body or the designated Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator who is responsible for providing auxiliary aids and services;

(4) "Primary consideration", when an auxiliary aid or service is required, the designated responsible authority shall when possible provide an opportunity for the qualified individual with a disability to designate the auxiliary aid or service of his or her choice. The designated responsible authority may honor the choice of the qualified individual with a disability, unless the designated responsible authority provides an equally effective auxiliary aid or service, or that use of the means chosen would result in a fundamental alteration in the service, program or activity or in undue financial or administrative burdens;

(5) "Qualified interpreter", an interpreter certified and licensed by the Missouri interpreter certification system or deemed competent by the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, who is able to interpret effectively, accurately and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary.

­­--------

(L. 1993 S.B. 88 § 4, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1783)