The Senate
Committee Substitute for House Bill 1783 (SCS HB 1783) does three
things that are high on the list of priorities of the Missouri
Commission for the Deaf for this year. In particular, it
(1) changes the name of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf to the
Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
(2) allows the Commission
to pay its MICS evaluators, and
(3) creates an administrative fund for the Commission that will
allow it to receive gifts, contributions, grants and bequests as
well as to enter into contracts with public and private entities for
its services.
In addition, SCS HB 1783 mandates the recognition of certain RID and
NAD certifications, and allows the holders of those certifications
to go directly to licensure and obtain a license without having to
convert their certifications to MICS certifications. While MCD
happily supports the recognition of RID and NAD certifications as
detailed in SCS SB 1783, we need to emphasize that there are now
many issues that need to be resolved concerning rule changes that
may be necessitated by the passage of this law.
That portion of SCS HB 1783 was drafted hurriedly by its backers
without consulting MCD, and it now will require the solution of
several issues before the law could be fully implemented.
HB 1783 was introduced in the House by Representative Jenee Lowe,
and the Senate Committee Substitute bill was developed by Senator
Betty Sims. The Missouri Commission for the Deaf wishes to thank
these two legislators for their leading roles in the development and
passage of this legislation. SCS HB 1783 was "Truly Agreed To and
Finally Passed" on 5/6/02, and is now awaiting the Governor's
signature. |
