Document Citation: 63 P.S. § 1725.4

Header:
PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES
TITLE 63. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (STATE LICENSED)
CHAPTER 31A. SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER AND TRANSLITERATOR STATE REGISTRATION ACT

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:
§ 1725.4. State registration required

(a) GENERAL RULE.-- Except as provided in subsection (b), no individual may provide or offer to provide sign language interpreting or transliterating services, or hold himself as a qualified sign language interpreter or qualified transliterator or, use a similar title or designation, without being State-registered by the office in accordance with this act.

(b) EXCEPTIONS.-- The following individuals are exempt from the State registration requirements of subsection (a):

(1) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating at a
worship service conducted by a religious entity and services for
educational purposes for a religious entity or religiously affiliated
school.

(2) An individual engaged in sign language interpreting or
transliterating during an emergency, when a delay in obtaining a
State-registered interpreter or State-registered transliterator might
lead to injury or loss to the individual requiring the services.

(3) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating as part of
a supervised internship or practicum at an accredited college or
university if it is not in any of the following:

(i) A legal setting.

(ii) A medical or mental health setting, unless accompanied by a
qualified sign language interpreter or qualified transliterator.

(4) An individual who is certified by the National Association of the
Deaf or the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf from outside the
Commonwealth who provides interpreting or transliterating services in
the Commonwealth for a period not exceeding 14 days each calendar year.

(5) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating at the
request of an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing if the
individual informs the client that the individual is not registered
under this act.

(6) An individual who engages in interpreting or transliterating
strictly as a volunteer.

(7) An individual employed in a public or private elementary or
secondary school or institution chartered by the Commonwealth who
engages in interpreting or transliterating for the instruction of
students or other school-related activity. Individuals exempt pursuant
to this subsection shall comply with regulations promulgated by the
State Board of Education establishing criteria for persons providing
sign language interpreting and transliterating services to students.

(8) Repealed by 2010, Nov. 23, P.L. 1355, No. 124, § 3, imd. effective.

(9) An individual who obtains a provisional registration under section
5.1.

(c) UNLAWFUL PRACTICE.-- An individual who violates this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $ 300 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, for a first violation. An individual who is convicted of a subsequent violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $ 300 nor more than $ 1,000 or to serve a term of imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.