As used in the Oklahoma Legal Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Act:

1. "Deaf person" or “hard-of-hearing person” means an individual whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life, and also may include a person who is deaf-blind, meaning a deaf or hard-of-hearing person whose vision is also nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life;

2. "Qualified legal interpreter" means:

a.an individual certified by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters, or

b. (1)an individual who possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately and impartially interpret spoken English into the equivalent visual languages and modes, and currently certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as one of the following:

(a)Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L). In the event none are available, then

(b)Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI & CT), Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), or National Association of the Deaf Certificate Level 5 (NAD5),

(2)an individual who possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately and impartially transliterate for a person who is oral or nonsigning using the equivalent oral or captioned mode, and is currently certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as one of the following:

(a)Specialist Certificate: Oral Transliteration Certificate (OTC). In the event none are available, then

(b)Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L). In the event none are available, then

(c)Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI & CT), Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), or National Association of the Deaf Certificate Level 5 (NAD5). In the event none are available, then a recognized national or state certifying body of captionists, or

(3)an individual who:

(a)is deaf or hard-of-hearing who possesses the knowledge, skills, specialized training and experience to enhance communication with persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and whose communication modes are so unique that they cannot be adequately assessed by interpreters who are hearing, and

(b)holds the following qualifications as a deaf interpreter: National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI); in the event none are available, then an Oklahoma QAST Deaf Evaluator may be utilized; and

3. "Appointing authority" means any court, department, board, commission, agency, licensing authority, political subdivision or municipality of the state.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 290, § 2. Amended by Laws 2005, c. 395, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.