HI SB962

Appropriates $45,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016 and $45,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017 to the department of human services for interpreter referral services.

Provides interpreter referral services to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who are not participants of the vocational rehabilitation program.

Ensures compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by supporting effective communication methods including qualified interpreters, captioners, and other auxiliary aids.

Addresses a funding gap where the department previously provided these services for approximately thirty years but had difficulty maximizing federal matching funds for non-vocational rehabilitation program participants.

Takes effect on July 1, 2015.