We NEED YOUR HELP! The message from President Paul Glaser, Legislative Coordinator Whitney Hill, WSAD President Kellie Shapard, and DPAC Raymond Batch******************************************************************************************************************'HB 1303, Educational Interpreters Update!!!There is a new amendment on Ed interpreter bill. https://app.leg.wa.gov/CMD/Handler.ashx?MethodName=getdocumentcontent&documentId=4WAmvQCbYB4&att=falseThis is really bad! It makes the educational interpreter standard voluntary instead of mandatory. The vote on this happens in the House Education Committee TOMORROW morning (Feb. 8, 2017)!!!! Please call as many members of the education committee as you can and send in comments. Thanks!Committee Members RepresentativeRoomPhoneSantos, Sharon Tomiko (D)Chair321 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7944Dolan, Laurie (D)Vice Chair318 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7940Stonier, Monica Jurado (D)Vice Chair331 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7872Harris, Paul (R)Ranking Minority Member403 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7976Muri, Dick (R)Asst Ranking Minority Member424 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7890Bergquist, Steve (D)322 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7862Caldier, Michelle (R)409 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7802Hargrove, Mark (R)436 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7918Johnson, Norm (R)122C Legislative Building(360) 786-7810Kilduff, Christine (D)334 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7958Lovick, John (D)429B Legislative Building(360) 786-7804McCaslin, Bob (R)425 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7820Ortiz-Self, Lillian (D)330 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7972Senn, Tana (D)309 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7894Slatter, Vandana (D)336 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7936Springer, Larry (D)132E Legislative Building(360) 786-7822Steele, Mike (R)122F Legislative Building(360) 786-7832Stokesbary, Drew (R)426 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7846Volz, Mike (R)427 John L. O'Brien Building(360) 786-7922WSRID emailed to the committee members: We are representing Washington State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. We have serious concerns about your proposed amendment to 1303. We are concerned this amendment leaves hundreds of deaf children around our state without sufficient access to their classrooms and an education. The original intent behind the educational interpreter standard was to set a minimal standard of competency for interpreters in our state because research showed that most deaf students did not have trained or competent interpreters in the classroom. This amendment destroys the very low bar the PESB has set (60% accuracy in interpretation) and leaves incompetent, untrained interpreters in their current positions. We would really like to talk to you about the disastrous impacts of this amendment. Please let us know if there is any availability in your schedule to meet by phone or in person. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
