NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By November 30, 2004, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the qualifications and competencies required of education interpreters who assist deaf and hearing impaired students. The office shall make recommendations to the governor, appropriate legislative committees, and the state board of education on the following options:

   (1) Requiring that all educational interpreters for deaf students and hard of hearing students to meet national registry standards;

   (2) Requiring the state board of education or the office of the superintendent of public instruction, as appropriate, to establish competencies for educational interpreters;

   (3) Requiring the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with institutions of higher education that have a deaf studies program, to provide a training program for educational interpreters. The training program should be accessible to all areas of Washington through a combination of interactive video conferences, online courses, and face-to-face classes; and

   (4) Any other option that the office deems viable to increase and maintain the quality and availability of educational interpreters in a fiscally responsible manner."

Effect: Removes from consideration options that would require education interpreters to have baccalaureate or higher degrees, removes an option that would require state or national certification and replaces the language with a reference to national registry standards, moves the study from the PESB to OSPI, and has the office report to appropriate legislative committees instead of the entire legislature.