From Deseret News archives:
Sign language need called dire
Measure would use surcharge to fund interpreter training
"We could use another 300 individuals right now," said Blaine Petersen, executive director of the Utah Office of Rehabilitation. "That is a big issue in public education and higher education — we are in a crisis."
Rep. Brent Goodfellow's bill calls for an expanded use of a dedicated credit that is funded by a telephone surcharge for services to the deaf, hard of hearing and severely speech impaired.
Goodfellow, D-West Valley, wants to use revenues from that surcharge to fund expanded programs at colleges and universities that will bid to provide the extra faculty and classrooms.
The Public Service Commission may raise rates, however, charged to telephone subscribers who require an extra service because of their hearing disability. Goodfellow showed committee members two examples of extra technology needed by the hearing impaired.
Currently, those customers pay 10 cents per line — state statute has set a limit of charging 25 cents per line.
The State Board of Regents, which oversees public higher education in Utah, would contract with the state, and then any number of institutions would train more sign language interpreters.
Salt Lake Community College currently trains about 12 sign language interpreters a year. Goodfellow said the need statewide is to train a least 100 per year.
"The jobs are out there," Goodfellow told committee members.
Those are jobs, he added, that pay between $35,000 and $65,000 a year, depending on a person's skill level, which ranges from novice to intermediate and masters.
State agencies currently employ 228 sign language interpreters, but 46 of those have only temporary certificates and don't even rise to the level of novice.
Goodfellow pointed out that many of the more skilled interpreters end up being hired away into the private sector. He and committee members agreed the next step after passage of HB145 is to address raising salaries for sign language interpreters.
The House has already voted 68-0 in favor of the bill.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
