Section 34-16-4

Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators - Creation; composition; meetings; duties; compensation.

(a) There is created the Alabama Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators.

(b) The board shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor as follows:

(1) Four members certified as interpreters or transliterators at a professional level by a nationally recognized certification, one of whom shall work in an educational setting. A list of three nominations for each of these positions shall be submitted to the Governor by ALRID.

(2) Three deaf or hard of hearing members who are knowledgeable in the field of professional interpreting. A list of three nominations for each of these positions shall be submitted to the Governor by AAD.

(3) Two members at-large who have an interest in and are experienced in dealing with issues that affect the deaf, hard of hearing, and interpreting communities.

(c) All members of the board shall be citizens of the United States and the State of Alabama. In appointing members to the board, the nominating organizations and the Governor, to the extent possible, shall select those persons whose appointments ensure that the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(d) A list of three nominees for each position, except for the at-large positions, shall be submitted to the Governor by the designated organizations by October 1, 1998. The initial terms shall begin January 1, 1999.

(e) The initial members of the board shall serve the following terms as designated by the Governor:

(1) Four of the initial members shall serve for two years.

(2) Three of the initial members shall serve for three years.

(3) Two of the initial members shall serve for four years.

(f) Subsequent terms of office shall be four years. No board member may serve more than two consecutive terms. In the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall fill the vacancy from the remaining names on the list of nominees for that position. Each board member shall serve until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified.

(g) At its first meeting each year, the board shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. No member shall be elected to serve more than two consecutive years in the same office.

(h) After the initial appointments to the board are made, the board shall meet by January 31 of the following year for the purpose of organizing and transacting business as may properly come before the board. Subsequently, the board shall meet not less than twice annually, and as frequently as it deems necessary, at such time and places as it designates. A quorum necessary to transact business shall consist of five of the members of the board.

(i) The board shall have all of the following duties:

(1) Act on matters concerning licensure and permitting, and the process of granting, suspending, reinstating, and revoking a license or permit.

(2) Set a fee schedule for granting licenses and permits, for renewing licenses and permits, for reinstating a lapsed license or permit, and for assessing penalties for late renewal. The fees shall be sufficient to cover the cost of the continued operation and administration of the board.

(3) Develop a mechanism for processing applications for licenses, permits, and renewals.

(4) Establish a procedure to enable the investigation of complaints concerning the violation of ethical practices for licensed or permitted interpreters.

(5) Maintain a current register of licensed interpreters and a current register of permitted interpreters. These registers shall be matters of public record.

(6) Maintain a complete record of all board proceedings.

(7) Submit an annual report detailing the proceedings of the board to the Governor and file a copy with the Secretary of State.

(8) Adopt continuing education requirements no later than October 1 of the year in which the initial board is appointed. These requirements shall be implemented by January 1 of the year following for renewal of a license or permit.

(j) Board members shall receive the same travel expenses and per diem as state employees pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 36 and incidental and clerical expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out this chapter. The compensation and expenses shall be paid out of the funds of the board. Reimbursement shall not be made if available funds are insufficient for this purpose.

(Act 98-675, p. 1480, §4; Act 2002-80, p. 254, §3; Act 2003-66, p. 104, §3.)