Human Services Committee Testimony: An Act to Establish a State Interpreting Standards Board

House Bill 6932: Testimony in Support of House Bill 6932: An Act to Establish a State Interpreting Standards Board

Honorable Members of the Committee,

I am here today, as co-chair of the Governor’s Deaf Advisory Committee Task Force on Education (Special Education) of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Children and Youth/Sign Language Instruction, to express my strong support for House Bill 6932: An Act to Establish a State Interpreting Standards Board. This legislation is a necessary and long-overdue step toward ensuring that Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing individuals across Connecticut have access to high-quality, professional interpreting services in critical settings such as education, healthcare, and legal proceedings. By creating a centralized board under the Bureau of Services for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Persons, this bill establishes clear standards, oversight, and accountability for interpreters and interpreter service agencies statewide.

This legislation lays the essential groundwork for a broader and transformative initiative: Senate Bill 781, which I have dubbed The FLUENT Act (Fostering Language Understanding and Expanding New Teaching Act). On February 7th, I had the privilege of meeting with the Governor’s Deaf Advisory Board to discuss the core objectives of SB 781. Throughout an hour-long discussion, there was overwhelming support for the bill’s vision to expand and enhance American Sign Language (ASL) education across Connecticut. As a result, the Advisory Board took decisive action by voting to establish a Task Force to study and provide a set of legislative recommendations ahead of the special education committee’s Joint Favorable (JF) deadline. The intent behind SB 781 and the Task Force’s recommendations is to incorporate these improvements into 5001 to strengthen special education and expand ASL education through a pilot program.

From a financial perspective, SB 781 represents a prudent and necessary investment in Connecticut’s educational and accessibility infrastructure. The proposed budget includes funding for ASL teacher recruitment and certification programs, interpreter training initiatives, and the development of ASL curriculum resources. Additionally, the pilot program aims to assess cost-effective strategies for integrating ASL education into existing special education frameworks. By implementing these measures, the state can reduce long-term costs associated with inadequate language access while promoting greater educational and career opportunities for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

The FLUENT Act focuses on four key action areas that align directly with the objectives of the State Interpreting Standards Board:

1. Strengthening ASL Teacher Certification & Recruitment — Establishing higher standards for ASL educators to improve instruction quality and accessibility.
2. Improving IEPs, 504 Plans, and Language and Communication Plan (LCP) Implementation — Ensuring that students who require ASL support receive consistent and effective accommodations.
3. Enhancing ASL Education & Student Support — Expanding ASL instruction in schools to foster language development and accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
4. Improving Interpreter Training & Oversight — Aligning state certification requirements with best practices and ensuring interpreters meet the highest professional standards.

The passage of 6932 is an essential first step toward achieving the broader vision outlined in SB 781. By ensuring that interpreters are properly trained, credentialed, and held to rigorous standards, we are building the infrastructure necessary to expand ASL education and improve communication access across all public services.

I urge the committee to support this legislation and recognize its critical role in laying the foundation for comprehensive ASL education and special education reforms in Connecticut. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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