HCS HB 1195 -- PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

SPONSOR:  Behnen

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 16 to 0.

This substitute contains provisions regarding deaf interpreters,
tattooists, speech pathology assistants, fund accounts, and the
licensing of foreign applicants.

DEAF INTERPRETERS

The substitute allows persons enrolled in accredited interpreter
training programs to be exempt from licensure if they are only
engaged in activities which constitute part of their course of
study.

The substitute also allows certified deaf interpreters from other
states to practice without a license for the purpose of providing
temporary services at special events.

The substitute gives the Division of Professional Registration
the authority to deny license renewal of deaf interpreters for
failure to provide satisfactory evidence of current certification
with the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The substitute authorizes the commission to issue provisional
certification as an interpreter to a person nominated by a school
district if the district certifies that it is unable to locate
and employ a certified licensed deaf interpreter.

TATTOOISTS

The substitute authorizes the division to issue temporary
licenses for persons entering the state for the sole purpose of
participating in a state or national convention where the
applicant will be practicing the profession of tattooing, body
piercing, and branding.  The temporary license will be valid for
14 days.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS

The substitute repeals provisions regarding certain licensing
requirements of speech pathology assistants.

FUND ACCOUNTS

The substitute requires money in the Athletic Fund, the Marital
and Family Therapists Fund, the State Committee of Psychologists
Fund, the Committee of Professional Counselors Fund, and the
Hearing Instrument Specialist Fund be three times the preceding
year's appropriation prior to being placed in the General Revenue
Fund.

LICENSURE OF FOREIGN APPLICANTS

The substitute requires persons from foreign countries when
making application for a license or temporary permit to practice
within any of the professions regulated by the division to
provide their visa and/or passport identification number in lieu
of a social security number.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and
FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill clarifies some
ambiguous statutes pertaining to deaf interpreters,
certain funds, and foreign applicants for professional licensure.
The bill exempts deaf interpreter students from licensure as well
as interpreters licensed from other states.  Interpreters would
also be required to provide evidence of certification prior to
license renewal.  It is necessary to remove the provision in the
law which requires foreign applicants for licensure to provide a
social security number.  Most foreigners don't have social
security numbers, so there is no way they can provide them.  They
will be required to provide the division with their social
security number at the time of license renewal.  The Office of
Tattooing, Body Piercing and Branding needs the authority to
issue temporary licenses.  St. Louis hosts an annual tattoo
convention, and out-of-state attendees need temporary permits to
practice tattooing.  Issuing temporary licenses will generate
revenue for the state and St. Louis.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Behnen; Division of
Professional Registration; and Missouri Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say they would like the
bill to allow school districts to be able to certify and employ
persons to provide interpretive services in cases where licensed
interpreters are not available.

Others testifying on the bill were Missouri School Boards
Association; and Missouri Council of School Administrators.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am