2019 -- H 5419

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LC001466

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMMISSION ON THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-

HEARING

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Azzinaro, Bennett, and Ackerman

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-1.8 of the General Laws entitled "Commission on the Deaf and

Hard-of-Hearing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     23-1.8-5. Communication access services.

     A state employee who is approved by the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing as

an interpreter or a communication access realtime translation (CART) provider may be employed

by the commission or by other state agencies as long as the interpreter and CART services:

     (1) Are provided outside of the normal working hours of the employee in order to comply

with federal, state, and local laws;

     (2) The services are not required as part of the regular duties of the employee;

     (3) The employee does not participate in or have official responsibility for the financial

management of the contracting agency;

     (4) The employee is compensated for no more than four (4) hours in any day in which the

employee is otherwise compensated by the state of Rhode Island; and

     (5) The head of the contracting agency files with the state ethics commission a written

certification that there is a critical need for the services of the employee.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMMISSION ON THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-

HEARING

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     This act would provide conditions to lawfully permit a state employee to be employed as

an interpreter or a CART provider outside of the normal working hours.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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