Frankfort, Kentucky (February 25, 2025) – Today, members of the House of Representatives passed HB 39, sponsored by Representative Amy Neighbors. The measure would establish eligibility requirements for an educational K-12 license from the Kentucky Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for interpreters working in K-12 educational settings.
“Currently, Kentucky is facing a shortage of interpreters in school systems across the state,” said Neighbors. “HB 39 would create a third type of interpreter’s license specifically for educational interpreters, which would help address the shortage and make it less burdensome for individuals seeking to obtain the license.”
Under this measure, an applicant seeking an educational K-12 license from the board to work as an interpreter in K-12 educational settings would be required to submit an application that includes an application fee and current certification, assessment, or evaluation at the requisite level for sign language interpreters, oral interpreters, or cued speech transliterators working in K-12 educational settings as determined by the board and promulgated by administrative regulation. The board would be required to issue an educational K-12 license to an applicant who fulfills the requirements.
“This third license, administered by the Kentucky Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, would allow experts in the field to determine the qualifications needed to work successfully in an educational setting and make it easier to identify interpreters that have specialized in educational interpreting,” added Neighbors.
HB 39 now moves to the Senate for consideration. To keep track of HB 39 during the 2025 Regular Session, please click here or visit legislature.ky.gov.
(Emily O’Connor, Communications Specialist – House Majority Leadership Office)