MO SB1637

Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing must establish a statewide communication access services program to improve ADA compliance by coordinating resources, filling service gaps, and assisting with accommodation costs

Commission responsibilities include developing a statewide registry of communication access service providers organized by region, maintaining an informational website, and providing consultation and technical assistance to state and local agencies

Communication access services covered include qualified interpreters, realtime translation, notetakers, Braille boards, captioning services, and environmental access support for deaf-blind individuals

Creates the "Communication Access Services Fund" in state treasury to fund program manager salary, financial assistance for services, and scholarships for professional development and certification testing

Commission must submit annual reports to the governor and general assembly on service utilization, registry effectiveness, funding outcomes, and recommendations for improvement