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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3288
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE BARNES.
7191H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 209, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to communication
access services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 209, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 209.247, to read as follows:
209.247 . 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
2 (1) "Commission", the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing;
3 (2) "Communication access service", shall include, but not be limited to, the
4 following:
5 (a) Qualified interpr eters, as described in section 209.285;
6 (b) Communication access real -time translation services;
7 (c) Notetakers, visual or Braille boards, and visual video services;
8 (d) Open and closed captioning services;
9 (e) Envir onmental access support for the deaf-blind and those with low vision;
10 and
11 (f) Any other effective method of making aurally deliver ed and printed
12 information available to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;
13 (3) "Communication access service pr ovider", an individual who is trained to
14 offer a communication access service to communicate aurally deliver ed and printed
15 information to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.
16 2. The commission shall establish a statewide communication access services
17 pr ogram to impr ove compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act for
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 agencies and businesses by coordinating res ourc es, filling service gaps, and assisting
19 with costs relat ed to accommodations. The commission shall:
20 (1) Develop and maintain a statewide regi stry of communication access service
21 pr oviders, organized by regi on, including rural and urban areas;
22 (2) Cr eate a pr ocess for communication access service pro viders to apply for
23 placement on the r egistry;
24 (3) Establish minimum standards for training, equipment, and technology;
25 (4) Maintain an informational website accessible by businesses, agencies, and
26 individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing r egarding res our ces and
27 available progra mming;
28 (5) Pr ovide consultation, training, and technical assistance to aid state and local
29 agencies to be in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
30 (6) Pr ovide information regardi ng available res our ces to assist with compliance
31 costs and to support potential communication access service provi ders in underserved
32 ar eas;
33 (7) Conduct outreach activities for urban or rural res idents and communication
34 access service pr oviders to expand awaren ess and capacity in underserved ar eas;
35 (8) Subject to appropriat ion, administer scholarships for pr ofessional
3 6 development, internships, and certification testing;
37 (9) Subject to appr opriation and pursuant to rules pr omulgated under this
38 section, administer and finance req uests for communication access services between
39 agencies and businesses and individuals who ar e deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;
40 (10) Hire a pr ogram manager to serve at the pleasur e of the dir ector of the
41 commission. The pr ogram manager shall have a backgroun d and experience in
42 communication access services. The salary for the progra m manager shall be paid out
43 of the fund established in subsection 3 of this section; and
44 (1 1) Submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly that
45 includes information on communication access service utilization, regi stry effectiveness,
46 funding outcomes, and re commendations for impr ovement.
47 3. (1) Ther e is her eby cr eated in the state trea sury the "Communication Access
48 Services Fund", which shall consist of moneys appr opriated to the fund and any gifts,
49 donations, grants, and bequests fr om individuals, private organizations, foundations, or
50 other sources for the purpose of administering the pro gram established in this section.
51 The state tr easurer shall be the custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections
52 30.170 and 30.180, the state trea sur er may appr ove disbursements. The fund shall be a
53 dedicated fund and, upon appr opriation, moneys in the fund shall be used by the
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54 commission for the salary of the prog ram manager , distribution of financial assistance
55 for communication access services, and distribution of scholarships under this section.
56 (2) Notwithstanding the pro visions of section 33.080 to the contrary , any moneys
57 r emaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not r evert to the credit of the
58 general reven ue fund.
59 (3) The state tre asurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as
60 other funds ar e invested. Any interes t and moneys earned on such investments shall be
61 cr edited to the fund.
62 4. The commission shall pro mulgate rules to implement the pr ovisions of this
63 section, including the proc ess for distributing scholarships under subdivision (8) of
64 subsection 2 of this section and determining eligibility for financial assistance under
65 subdivision (9) of subsection 2 of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term
66 is defined in section 536.010, that is cr eated under the authority delegated in this section
67 shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provi sions of
68 chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are
69 nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to
70 chapter 536 to review , to delay the effective date, or to disappr ove and annul a rule ar e
71 subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule
72 pr oposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.
✔
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