Brief Description: Allowing interpreters to assist hearing impaired persons during driver's license examinations.

Sponsors: Senators Pridemore, McAuliffe, Mulliken and Kohl-Welles.

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: There are two tests involved in obtaining a driver's license: a knowledge exam and a skills exam. The Department of Licensing (DOL) may adopt rules relating to driver testing procedures. DOL policy, during the knowledge exam, is to hire a deaf interpreter for those applicants who think they would benefit from it. The interpreter may only assist the applicant in understanding the exam questions and choice of answers. Family members or friends may not be used as the interpreter. In the skills exam, DOL policy is to set aside additional time for the exam and to meet with the applicant before the exam to discuss preferred modes of communication. An interpreter is not allowed in the car during the skill exam.

Summary: DOL is directed to allow deaf interpreters in the car during the skills exam. The interpreter must be chosen from a list supplied by DOL.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      98   0   (House amended)
Senate            (Senate refused to concur)
House      98   0   (House amended)
Senate      44   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006