Section 20-14-801 - Findings(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1)(A) The practice of interpreting affects the public health, safety, and welfare and civic, economic, social, academic, and recreational aspects of life.(B) Therefore, the practice of interpreting should be subject to licensure and regulation to protect the public's interest;(2) Individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or oral deaf, individuals with disabilities who use special techniques in order to communicate, and individuals whose primary language is sign language have a civil right to effective communication;(3) Individuals with hearing disabilities and those with whom they communicate require and are entitled to competent, reliable interpreting services; and(4) The availability of competent, reliable, credentialed interpreting services is necessary for individuals with hearing disabilities to realize their right to full and equal participation in society.(b) The purposes of this subchapter are to: (1) Provide minimum qualifications for interpreters and to ensure that members of the interpreting profession perform with a high degree of competency;(2) Regulate the practice and licensure of interpreters for individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or oral deaf; and(3) Impose penalties for persons who violate this subchapter or the rules adopted under this subchapter.Added by Act 2013, No. 1314,§ 2, eff. 8/16/2013.