Feb 02, 2024 Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Advisory Board

[1. Call to order, roll call, and introductions]

[2. Consideration of October 20, 2023, draft meeting minutes]

[00:11:41]

[00:11:48]

[00:11:53]

>> YEA . >> MISS LEE GODBOLD . DR.

RAYSHELLE HARRIS . >> ABSTAIN.

>> MR. MARTIN VASQUEZ. >> YEA .

>> MR. JOSE OVIRIO VELASQUEZ . MISS ALAINA WEBB . CHAIR, THE MOTION PASSES BEING THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTED

FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. WE

[3. Update from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services]

FOR HIS REPORT. >> GOOD MORNING, AND THINK YOU CHAIR VASQUEZ AND CHAIR MEMBERS. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE DIRECTORS REPORT. I WILL PROVIDE SOME OFFICE UPDATES AS WELL. AT THE LAST MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THE STAP PROGRAM HAD TWO VACANCIES. THERE WERE TWO INTERVIEWS GOING ON AT THE TIME, AND I CAN INFORM YOU NOW THEY ARE POLICE DAFT. THEY BASICALLY HAVE A VACANT CONTRACT POSITION AND INTERVIEWS WILL BEGIN SOON. ON JANUARY 31ST HERE RECENTLY, WE SAID GOODBYE TO TWO OF OUR TRAINING TEAM MEMBERS WHO LEFT TO PURSUE NEW OPPORTUNITIES. ONE OF THE TRAINING POSITIONS HAS NOW BEEN POSTED. AND FINALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT SERVICES IS LOOKING FOR A DEPARTMENTAL PARTNER TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OVERALL. THEY WILL SUPPORT DHHS AND OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE BLIND

[00:15:02]

TWO CHANNELS WERE ESTABLISHED -- ONE FOR GENERAL DHHS TOPICS , ANNOUNCE MINTS, TRAININGS, AND EVENTS, AND THE OTHER CHANNEL FOR BEI RELATED TOPICS. COMMUNICATION TO CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS, COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE ADVISORY BOARD, SUCH AS MEETINGS AND EVENTS. AND IF ANY INTERPRETER WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECEIVING EMAILS FROM DHHS AND DID NOT RECEIVE AN ANNOUNCED MEANT, AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR OFFICE FOR THE DELIVERY, PLEASE GO TO THE AND THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PAGE TO SIGN UP FOR THE GUV DELIVERY SYSTEM. ONCE YOU'VE LANDED ON THAT PAGE, ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE TO FIND THE TOPICS OF INTEREST. BEI IS LISTED AT THE TOP, CHECK THAT. AND THEN ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WAY DOWN, DHHS TOPICS UNDER HEALTH AND WIRELESS . YOU CAN CHECK THAT IF YOU LIKE. AT THE BOTTOM, CLICK SUBMIT, AND YOU ARE NOW SUBSCRIBED. ALSO, I AM THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE PLANS FOR CAMP SIGN FOR 2024. WE WILL SOON BE DISSEMINATING A SAVE THE DATE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED AS TO HOW TO REGISTER, WHERE, ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. WE WILL BE USING THIS INFORMATION TO REGULATE THE INFORMATION REGARDING CAMP SIGN. RELATED TO THE BEI ADVISORY BOARD, THIS BOARD PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON A ROUGH DRAFT OF THE CPC TENANTS FOR GENERAL COURT AND HEALTHCARE INTERPRETING. THESE DRAFTS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR POSTING. ONCE WE HAVE FORMATTED THEM FOR THE WEB, WE WILL THEN POST THEM ON OUR WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK. WE ARE SUGGESTING A 30 DAY PERIOD TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. ONCE WE DO POST, WE WILL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH THE DELIVERY SYSTEM. AS I WRAP UP, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SHARE THESE UPDATES. WE AT DHHS APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT BEI CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS DO TO ENSURE COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR ALL TEXANS. THANK YOU, MR. VAZQUEZ. BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, THOUGH CERTAINLY SOUND LIKE SOME VERY EXCITING UPDATES. WELL, THEY ARE VERY EXCITING, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CAMP SIGN 2024 AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF

[4. BEI manager report]

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- WITH BEI .

VASQUEZ. AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM THE MANAGER FOR THE BOARD OF EVALUATION OF INTERPRETING PROGRAMS. I AM REALLY HOPING THIS FINDS EVERYONE HAS HAD A GREAT START TO THEIR NEW YEAR. IT'S BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE START FOR US ON THE BEI TEAM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE POSITIVE THINGS TO COME. ON BEHALF OF THE BEI PROGRAM, WE HAVE A FEW OPERATIONAL UPDATES TO SHARE. IN REGARDS TO OUR PERFORMANCE TESTING PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, WHICH IS WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023, TO JANUARY 31 --

[00:20:03]

TO PRESIDENT VASQUEZ. >> AGAIN, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO NOTE ABOUT THESE UP DATES. WE SEE HOW THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS ARE FINALLY HAVING A GREATER IMPACT ON EASE FOR US, AND THE COMMUNITY, BUT CERTAINLY FOR YOUR OFFICE AS WELL. WE KNOW YOU ARE ALL HARD-WORKING, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING. WE ARE

[5. Discuss interpreter referral agencies using unqualified interpreters]

[00:25:13]

PUBLIC HEARING ROOM. YOU ARE ON MUTE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANTED TO SAY, THIS IS A CRITICAL TOPIC AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON PART OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONTINUE THAT SITUATION. PLEASE PUT MY NAME IN THE HAT FOR THAT

SUBCOMMITTEE. >> EXCELLENT, DR. HARRIS. I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE MOTIVATED BY THIS TOPIC. WE REALLY NEED THIS KIND OF MOTIVATION FOR THIS TOPIC. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? MISS WEBB, I BELIEVE, HAS HER HAND RAISED AS

WELL. >> YES, I AGREE WITH DR.

HARRIS. THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE IS A BETTER AVENUE FOR US AS A BOARD TO TAKE. WE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT POTENTIAL SANCTIONS AGAINST INTERPRETERS, ESPECIALLY REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT IF WE GO TO THE EXTREME OF REMOVING CERTIFICATION, WE ALSO REMOVE OUR ABILITY TO HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THEIR ACTIONS OR ANY ABILITY TO IMPACT THEIR DECISIONS. I FEEL LIKE LOOKING AT OUR POSSIBILITIES OF WORKING TO IMPROVE BETTER SERVICE QUALITY OR BETTER QUALITY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH REFERRAL AGENCIES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE A MORE POSITIVE IMPACT. AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING AND ANYONE ELSE ON THIS SUBCOMMITTEE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS OUR BEST WAY OF TRYING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUR INTERPRETERS.

>> THANK YOU, MISS WEBB. WE HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED. THOSE WERE JUST SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE RECENTLY STATED ABOUT WHAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT, BUT I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS. WE DID HAVE A THIRD PERSON WHO EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE. THAT WAS MISS LEE GODBOLD . I THINK WITH DR.

HARRIS, MISS WEBB,, AND MISS GODBOLD, I THINK THEY WOULD BE STAFFED SUFFICIENTLY TO DISCUSS THESE TOPICS. BUT I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP TO SEE WHAT OTHER RELATED QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT WE COULD OFFER UP AS POSSIBLE GUIDANCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR SUBCOMMITTEE.

MISS WEBB? >> THANKS. I'M NOT 100% SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION IS THAT IS BEING RAISED. ARE YOU ASKING ME IN ADDITION TO THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT OTHER AGENCIES TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF PROCEDURES AND POLICIES THEY HAVE IN PLACE? OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC GROUPS THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING US REACHING OUT TO? IF THE SECOND ONE IS WHAT I'M

[00:30:02]

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE FIRST PLACE TO START IS PROBABLY WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT HOW PREVALENT IS THIS, AND WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WITH A LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WOULD THEY CONSIDER TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THEM, IF THIS REALLY IS THE ISSUE THAT WE THINK IT IS.

JUST TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK, FIRST AND FOREMOST. I HATE FOR US TO JUMP FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER. THIS IS IMPORTANT, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> THANK YOU, MISS WEBB. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING UNCLEAR, BUT THINK YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS. AND BOTH WERE VIABLE OPTIONS. BUT THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING WHAT YOU DID, AND THE SECOND INSTANCE. MISS ARELLANO?

>> YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR BASQUE AS. I AGREE WITH MISS WEBB ABOUT GETTING INPUT FROM THE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, DEAF/BLIND COMMUNITIES FIRST. ONE THING I WOULD LOVE TO STRESS IS TRANSPARENT ME. AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE -- NOT REALLY THE COMMITTEE, BUT THE BEI, OUR AGENCY, IS CLEAR ABOUT WHY WE ARE ASKED FOR FEEDBACK AND WHAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF FEEDBACK. YOU KNOW, JUST THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ABOUT OUR GOALS, BECAUSE I ANTICIPATE THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN, PERHAPS, RURAL AREAS, MAY BE HESITANT TO REACH OUT AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS. BECAUSE MAYBE THEY ARE BARELY GETTING INTERPRETING SERVICES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND MAYBE THEY THINK THAT IF THEY REACH OUT AND GIVE SOME OF THEIR FEEDBACK, THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR THEM TO GET INTERPRETING SERVICES IN THEIR AREA. MY CONCERN IS JUST TRANSPARENCY. WE CAN BE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE AT THE BEGINNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ELICITING AND GETTING THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WE REALLY NEED FROM INTERPRETING SERVICES IN ORDER TO USE THAT TO GUIDE THE RESEARCH FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MISS ARELLANO. EXCELLENT POINT THAT YOU HAVE MADE. I AM CERTAINLY WITH YOU ON THE ISSUE OF THE FEAR OF RETALIATION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITH DIGNITY AND WITH RESPECT, THAT THEY DESERVE. AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT TRANS PARENTS IAN DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WILL BE DISCUSSING HOW WE CAN COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS

[00:35:05]

BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND WITH SOME OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE WANTED TO ASK FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE OPTION OF HAVING AGENCIES WHO PROVIDE INTERPRETING SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED. AND TO RECEIVE THAT LICENSE, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN CREDENTIALS. AND IF THEY ARE USING UNCERTIFIED OR UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS REPEATEDLY, IT COULD IMPACT THEIR LICENSING WITH THE STATE. THAT IS ONE WE

COULD ASK LAURA. >> IS EQUALLY CRUCIAL TO SOLICIT THE FEEDBACK IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT THOSE CONSISTENT ISSUES THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH -- YOU KNOW, SO I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH ALAYNA AND CHRISTINA. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU, DR. HARRIS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING WITHIN THE DEAF COMMUNITY. AND THEY ARE HAPPENING AS WELL WITHIN THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY. SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HARNESS THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE COMING AT US AND TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK FOR OUR SITUATION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS. WE DO WANT TO CONSIDER WHAT THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE DEAF/BLIND COMMUNITY, HAVE TO TELL US AS FAR AS GUIDANCE ON HOW THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CHANGE. AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON, WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES. WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE. I THINK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE WE MOVE ON? MISS

WEBB. >> JUST ONE MORE THING THAT CAME TO MIND LISTENING TO BOTH CHRISTINA AND DR. HARRIS, WE ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT I KNOW THAT AFTER THE PANDEMIC, IT BECAME MUCH MORE COMMON FOR US TO SEE REMOTE INTERPRETING, WHICH, I THINK ONCE PANDORA IS OUT OF THE BOX, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT IT BACK IN. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT ANALOGY FOR THE INTERPRETERS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. REMOTE INTERPRETING IS HERE. IS THIS SOMETHING TO HELP PROTECT THE ANONYMITY OF THOSE WERE RETICENT TO REGISTER CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS? I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE WORK TOGETHER AS A SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THESE THINGS, LIKE HOW DO WE PROTECT CONSUMERS -- EVEN OUR HEARING CONSUMERS -- WHO REALIZE, I GOT AN INTERPRETER WHO DID NOT GET ACROSS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS. BECAUSE IT ISN'T JUST THE DEAF/BLIND/HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

IT'S OUR HEARING COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO PROTECT THEIR ANONYMITY IN ORDER TO GET THE FREEDOM TO GIVE US THE TYPE OF FEEDBACK THAT WOULD HELP GUIDE US. THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING. IT'S GONE FOR THE TIME BEING, I THINK WHAT CHRISTINA SAID IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AS WE ARE GOING ABOUT THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT -- THE GOAL IS NOT A WITCH HUNT.

THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY AND TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED. I DO REMEMBER THE OTHER THING. IT'S MORE OF A PARALLEL FROM A COLLEGIATE STANDPOINT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD MOST RECENTLY FROM STUDENTS AND EVEN FROM FACULTY IS THAT WHEN COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS ARE BROUGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, IT FEELS LIKE

[00:40:04]

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO -- HEARING MISS WEBB SPEAK, IT BROUGHT TO MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, AS AN INTERPRETER, I HAVE CERTAIN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS THAT I HAVE WITNESSED OR THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF MYSELF AS AN INTERPRETER OR AS A CONSUMER OF INTERPRETING SERVICES, AND THEY FEEL THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS THAT STICK OUT TO ME AS EITHER REALLY GREAT, OR, WOW, THAT COULD'VE GONE A LOT BETTER. AND I'M THINKING JUST ABOUT POTENTIAL SURVEY TYPE QUESTIONS, AND PERHAPS ONE OF THE WAYS TO -- IN CASE SOMEONE CAN'T THINK OF A SPECIFIC TIME THAT THEY RECEIVED ABOUT INTERPRETING BEING PROVIDED OR NOT BEING PROVIDED, MAYBE WE CAN ALSO ASK ABOUT TRENDS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN. NOT JUST SPECIFIC EVENTS. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF WE ASK PEOPLE, HEY, HOW HAVE YOUR INTERPRETING X VARIANCES IN FROM THIS -- YOU KNOW, FROM AGENCIES THAT YOU WORKED WITH? AND PERHAPS SOMEBODY IS JUST GOING TO THINK OF, OH, THAT ONE REALLY BAD ASKED PERIODS. AND WE CAN ASK ABOUT POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES, AND I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO CONSIDER -- THIS UPCOMING COMMITTEE WILL ALSO TAKE AN ITERATION ASKING ABOUT TRENDS. LONG-TERM TRENDS, SO THAT WE CAN GET A MORE OVERALL PICTURE OF ASKING ABOUT TRENDS FROM CONSUMERS OF INTERPRETING SERVICES. THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH YOU AND MISS WEBB FOR THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE. WHEN MISS WEBB WAS SPEAKING, I WAS THINKING ABOUT -- OFTEN, THE APPEARANCE IS ONE OF BEING COMPLICIT WITH WHOEVER HAS DONE SOME WRONG. OR THAT WE ARE COVERING UP FOR THEM, OR THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING A COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY. AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO CONVEY TO THOSE WHO, HONESTLY, MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, AND TO EXPRESS HOW THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGED. WE WANT TO TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. AND I THINK THOSE WERE SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS ABOUT AT LEAST COMING BACK AND SAYING SOMETHING TO THEM, THAT THE MATTER WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THAT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE, EVEN IF DETAILS CANNOT BE DISCLOSED. MISS

[00:45:03]

>> IF ANYONE HAS ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, WE CAN ENTERTAIN THEM NOW. IF NOT, WE CAN MOVE ON, BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU JUST A MOMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY -- ANY PARTING WORDS ON THIS

[6. Discuss criteria and methodology when determining BEI certified interpreter disciplinary action]

MISS WEBB. >> SORRY, I ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IS THE SAME TYPES OF SANCTIONS OR CONSIDERATIONS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO HOLD STATE CERTIFICATION AS THEY ARE TO THOSE WHO HOLD LICENSURE? THERE IS, IN MY UNDERSTANDING, LEGALLY SPEAKING, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE CERTIFICATION AND THEY ARE ISSUED BY THE STATE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST CONSIDERATIONS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, ARE WE ABLE TO LOOK AT LICENSING BODIES TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF CORRECTIVE ACTION AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION THEY CAN LEVY, AND USE SIMILAR THINGS THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE STATE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM? OR DO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT OTHER CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND WHAT TYPE OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION THEY USE, RATHER THAN FOR THE LICENSURE. I GUESS THAT IS MY KEY QUESTION, IS, ARE WE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL BODIES THAT PROVIDE A STATE CREDENTIAL? OR DO WE NEED TO BE LIMITING OURSELVES IS TYPICALLY TO OTHER CERTIFICATION BODIES? WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MR. VELASQUEZ HAS JOINED US, JUST IN TIME FOR THIS DISCUSSION. WE ARE DISCUSSING A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT -- MADE UP OF 3 MEMBERS -- THAT WOULD DO RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC OF GUIDANCE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO HHS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING DISCIPLINARY ACTION. AND ALSO, WHAT OTHER LICENSURE -- LICENSING AGENCIES DO. HOW DO THEY MANAGE THIS KIND OF ACTION? PERHAPS WE CAN

[00:50:06]

AM INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND SERVING ON THE

SUBCOMMITTEE. >> EXCELLENT. IT IS -- I AM GLAD THAT YOU ARE EAGER TO JOIN THE SUBCOMMITTEE. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE? IN THIS AS WELL, AND MISS WEBB, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?

>> NO. I'M WILLING TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE IF NO ONE ELSE IS. I THINK THAT THEY BOTH HAVE GREAT MERIT. AND I KNOW THAT -- THEY ARE NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT, BUT IF THEY NEED ANOTHER PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE, I'M HAPPY TO STEP UP TO IT AS WELL. BUT I'M ALSO PERFECTLY HAPPY TO LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THAT A■S ELL F HEY LIKE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. DR. HARRIS. >> HELLO. LIKEWISE, WHAT ALAYNA JUST STATED. IF YOU HAVE A VACANCY AND YOU NEED TO FILL A POSITION, THAT IS FINE. BUFFETT IS FULL, I AM FINE WITH IT AS WELL. AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT -- I WAS THINKING ABOUT PERHAPS JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION. DEVELOPING IN M.O. YOU WITH OUR I.D. OR OTHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATION BODIES, PARTNERING WITH THEM WITH IN M.O. YOU ABOUT ANY REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT WE MIGHT IDENTIFY, AND IF WE FIND SOME IN COMMON -- YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES INTERPRETERS MOVE AROUND TO DIFFERENT AGENTS THESE, SO PERHAPS DEVELOPING IN M.O. YOU TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH DIFFERENT BODIES AND LOOKING FOR ANY PATTERNS, AS WELL AS JUST HAVING AN OPEN DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY DO, AND THEY HOW THEY PROTECT DEAF/HARD OF HEARING AND DEAF/BLIND CONSUMERS TO MAKE SURE THAT INTERPRETING IS ACCESSIBLE. YOU KNOW. SO HAVING THAT OPEN DIALOGUE TO IN M.O. YOU OR SOMETHING -- JUST THROWING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

>> THANK YOU, DR. HARRIS. I THINK A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IS -- IS A GREAT IDEA. COULD THE BEI BE MOVING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY? BY DOING THINGS LIKE THE FBI, THAT CONNECTS INTO DIFFERENT DATABASES TO SEE -- TO CHECK ON PEOPLE? NOT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF -- AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS ISN'T A WITCHHUNT. WE AREN'T TRYING TO LOOK FOR WRONGS THAT PEOPLE COMMIT. BUT SOMETIMES, PEOPLE HAVE A WAY OF HANDLING THEMSELVES, AND THEY MOVE AROUND, AND THEY CAUSE TROUBLE WHEREVER THEY GO. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO HAVE AT LEAST AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT IS GOING ON. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AS WELL. MISS WEBB, YOU HAD A FURTHER

COMMENT? >> YES, THANK YOU. THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE DOCTOR JUST MENTIONED, IN REGARDS TO REPEAT OFFENDERS ESPECIALLY IN THEIR TENDENCY TO HOP AROUND AND MAYBE TRY TO BURN A BRIDGE IN ONE AREA AND MOVED TO ANOTHER AREA OF THIS DATE OR EVEN TO ANOTHER'S DATE UNTIL THEY BURN THOSE BRIDGES AND COME BACK AGAIN, WE HAVE SEEN THAT PATTERN. I THINK THAT THESE TWO SUBCOMMITTEES THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SETTING UP TODAY SHOULD BE CLOSELY TIED TOGETHER, TO THE POINT OF MAYBE ONE PERSON SERVES ON BOTH OF THOSE COMMITTEES TO ENSURE -- BECAUSE THE ONE THING IS WE HAD PEOPLE IN THE POCKETBOOK WHEN IT BECOMES A FINANCIAL BURDEN.

[00:55:06]

THAT'S JUST A WAY FOR THOSE TWO SUBCOMMITTEES TO WORK TOGETHER. I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE REALLY STRONG APPROACH

TO THIS. >> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU ARE READING MY MIND. WHICH IS NOT HARD TO DO, I THINK. AS FAR AS HAVING ONE MEMBER THAT SERVES ON BOTH, BECAUSE THESE TWO ARE RELATED, AND HAVING CONTINUITY, I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT -- UNIMPORTANT THOUGHT. I WANT TO ASK REST THAT THIS BODY, THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS, IS CONFIDENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE INTERPRETERS IN OUR STATE ARE ETHICAL, ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE HAVE A NEGATIVE VIEW OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THESE THINGS DO HAPPEN, AND THERE ARE SOME PERSONALITIES THAT MAY HAVE A TENDENCY -- MAY HAVE A TENDENCY -- TO DO WHAT MISS WEBB SAID.

YOU BURN YOUR BRIDGE, AND THEN YOU MOVE SOMEPLACE ELSE OUT OF NECESSITY AND CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THAT'S REALLY MORE OF A PERSONAL ISSUE, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT AFFECT ALL OR INTERPRETERS. WE HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE ALL DOING WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING. I DON'T MEAN TO PUT MR. VELASQUEZ ON THE SPOT, BUT I LIKE TO ASK WHETHER HE MIGHT HAVE AN OPINION ON WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

SOMEONE -- THIS IS A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR WHAT? WHEN I JOINED, YOU WERE JUST A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND I HAD NO IDEA -- I HAD NO CONTEXT. WHAT SUBCOMMITTEE ARE WE DISCUSSING ? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THIS IS BEFORE I DECIDE TO JOIN? BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO.

>> CERTAINLY, OF COURSE. WE ARE DISCUSSING --

>> I'M SORRY. >> NO, YOU ARE PERFECTLY RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOURSELF INTO. THIS IS A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO BE CAN ENTERING DOING RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC OF -- SORRY, I'M JUST MAKING SURE I'M ON THE RIGHT PAGE. WHAT OTHER LICENSURES DO AS FAR AS DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR MEMBERS WHO ACT CONTRARY -- WHO BREAK THE RULES CONTRARY TO THEIR CODE OF CONDUCT. SO WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE SO THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME RESEARCH INVOLVED AS TO WHAT OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DO WHO OFFER LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION, AS WELL AS -- LET ME SEE.

>> WOW. >> SO THAT IS WHAT'S ON THE TABLE AT THIS POINT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- WHOEVER IS INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC, TO PARTICIPATE. WE HAVE ASKED THAT

[01:00:01]

INTERESTED -- GO AHEAD. >> I WOULD LIKE TO, YES,

PLEASE. >> OKAY. SO WE HAVE MISSED ARELLANO AND WE HAVE MR. VELASQUEZ. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, PERHAPS, MISS WEBB. YOU HAD MENTIONED AN INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC AS WELL. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN BEING ON BOTH COMMITTEES, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS

ON THIS? >> I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY TO DO THAT. I ACTUALLY WAS JUST THINKING, I'D LIKE TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE. I'M HAPPY TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL. WHERE OUR WHEREVER I AM NEEDED, I WILL SERVE.

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING CONTINUITY AND HAVING BOTH OF THESE KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS THAT I THINK NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT THEY NEED TO BE SOMEWHAT PARALLEL. BUT I THINK -- I LEAVE THAT TO THE WORK OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES TO DETERMINE THAT, AND -- AND THEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT YOUR FINDINGS ARE AND WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.

AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THIS IN FUTURE MEETINGS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT OR ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT THEY LIKE TO SHARE WITH US BEFORE WE MOVE ON? WE WILL GIVE THE INTERPRETERS A MOMENT TO SWITCH. MISS JONES, WOULD YOU

LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? >> HI, THIS IS JAMIE JONES FROM THE OFFICE OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES. YES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT IN OUR MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS, AS MISS WEBB MENTIONED, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE SUBCOMMITTEES ONBOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING FOR US TO TAKE ACTION. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SING JUST IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AS A SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN AND YOU COME UP WITH A LIST OF QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO POSE TO OUR LEGAL TEAM HERE AT HHS, WE WOULD OFFER THAT. YOU CAN SEND THOSE QUESTIONS TO US VIA EMAIL, WE CAN THEN CONSULT WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM AS NEEDED, AND I KNOW MISS WEBB HAS MENTIONED THAT IN THE PAST THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE VAGUE OR WE ARE NOT REALLY SURE IN THE RULES WE CAN AND CAN'T DO. SO WITH THOSE GUIDING QUESTIONS THAT MR. VASQUEZ MENTIONED AND MISS WEBB REFERRED TO AS WELL, IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOME OF THOSE KEY QUESTIONS THAT WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR RESEARCH, WE ARE HAPPY TO DO SOME LEGWORK ON THIS END AS WELL. AND WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN. YOU WILL SEND THOSE DIRECTLY TO ME AND I WILL COORDINATE THOSE OF THE LEGAL TEAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JONES. SO THERE WE GO. WE HAVE PERMISSION TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND TO START COMING UP WITH SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT WE CAN THEN USE THE RESOURCES THAT HHS AND THE OFFICE OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES HAS TO OFFER THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM. SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS

[7. BEI forum planning for the Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf biennial conference]

THIS IS CONCERNING OUR DISCUSSION FOR THE FORUM, THE BEI FORUM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT OUR CONFERENCE, THE TEXAS SOCIETY OF INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF CONFERENCE. IT'S COMING UP IN JUNE. AND WHAT IDEAS WE MIGHT HAVE FOR THIS EVENT.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT? WHAT WOULD WE LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE -- WITH OUR INTERPRETING COMMUNITY, JUST TO KEEP -- JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE, THIS WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH OF THIS YEAR FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 P.M. AND THIS IS IN FORT WORTH. AND THIS WILL BE IN PERSON ONLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS WILL BE IN PERSON ONLY. WE ARE

[01:05:03]

>> I'M ANTICIPATING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW WE WILL HAVE. THE UPDATES ON OUR TEST, THAT COMES UP EVERY TIME WE GO IN FRONT OF THE DOUBLET. I THINK IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE ANY UPDATE THAT WE CAN SHARE ON THE CODES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THOSE ARE ILLEGAL RIGHT NOW, AND HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME JUNE COMES AROUND, THOSE WILL HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE. I KNOW THAT I AM PLANNING ON BEING THERE IN JUNE, WE TALKED ABOUT BEING THERE IN JUNE AS WELL.

THOSE TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR I KNOW ARE GOING TO COME UP.

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER -- JAMIE OR MARTIN MAY BE ABLE TO REMIND ME WHAT OUR NEXT OFFICIAL ADVISORY MEETING IS. BUT IF WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 7TH, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A MORE COHESIVE SET OF ANSWERS THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE AT THE FORUM. BUT THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO THINGS THAT I CAN THINK OF IMMEDIATELY WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR CDI TEST, AND ARE CODES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT, THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THEY ARE IN PROCESS. AND JUST BY INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ASKED WHERE ARE THOSE? I'M EXCITED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME UPDATES WITH THEM. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I SAY WE SHOULD BE BROUGHT

UP. >> THANK YOU. MISS ARELLANO ? BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE. MISS WEBB, WE DO HAVE A MEETING, I BELIEVE, SCHEDULED -- AN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON MAY 31, 2024. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE IN MY CALENDAR.

AND CHAIR VASQUEZ, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT.

AND AS FAR AS THE INFORMATION PRESENTED, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A CURRENT LIST OF OTHER STATES THAT ACCEPT BEI. JUST, YOU KNOW, PRESENTING THAT INFORMATION. AND AS FAR AS HOW INFORMATION IS PRESENTED AT THE FORUM, WHICH COULD PROBABLY THEN BE USED ON OUR WEBSITE, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING RECENTLY AT THE -- THE PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO MICRO-LEARNING, AND I -- I HOPE THAT PERHAPS IF BEI SEES FIT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CREATE SOME INFOGRAPHICS WITH THE DATA IN, LIKE, A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED THOSE FORMS IN THE PAST AND HAVE FELT OVERWHELMED AT JUST A WHOLE LOT OF NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES ON ONE SLIDE, AND SOMETIMES, I AM JUST LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS INFORMATION. SO AS FAR AS THE PRESENTATION OF THE DATA AND THE STATISTICS, PERHAPS WE CAN STILL INCLUDE THOSE THINGS AND ALSO INCLUDE -- TRY TO INCLUDE INFOGRAPHICS THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A WAY THAT TODAY'S SOCIETY CONSUMES INFORMATION, WHICH IS -- THAT TO SAY, A LOWER ATTENTION SPAN. SO IF WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THINGS, GET TO THE POINT, AND SHOW THOSE THINGS IN A MANNER -- I WAS LOOKING ON PINTEREST THE OTHER DAY. THERE ARE TONS OF TEMPLATES ON HOW TO PRESENT INFOGRAPHICS FOR MICRO-LEARNING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT IS MY ADVICE AND REQUEST. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, MISS ARELLANO .

[01:10:09]

OUR NEXT BEI MEETING WILL BE ON FRIDAY, -- FRIDAY MAY 31, WHICH IS JUST ONE WEEK BEFORE OUR FORUM BEFORE THE CONFERENCE. IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION AT THE FORUM? DR. HARRIS, PLEASE.

>> HELLO. I'M ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS FORM. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. I THINK I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE BEI FORUM, BUT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH WHAT CHRISTINA SAID. I THINK INFOGRAPHICS ARE CRUCIAL SO THAT WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE DATA CAN BE APPLIED AND HOW WE CAN BETTER DISCUSS THAT.

NOW, YOUR QUESTIONS, FOR SEEING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THEY'RE GOING TO ASK, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. THE BEI, WITH A SUPPORT ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND? I WOULD JUST WONDERING .

THAT QUESTION. WE WILL ASK MISS JAMIE JONES TO LOOK INTO THAT AND PROVIDE A RESPONSE AT A LATER TIME, OKAY? THANK YOU FOR ASKING. I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THAT I WAS PLANNING ON ATTENDING, SO I AM EXCITED TO BE THERE, ESPECIALLY TO SEE INTERPRETERS ACROSS THE STATE. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS CONCERNING THIS DISCUSSION? OKAY. A QUESTION THAT JUST CAME UP. FROM THE LAST FORUM THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S ANY FOLLOW-UP THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? DO WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS FORUM? MISS WEBB.

>> YES. I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING OF THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT CHRISTINA JUST MENTIONED. WE PROVIDED A LOT OF DATA, ESPECIALLY ON WHERE THE CERTIFICATION WAS REQUIRED VERSUS WHERE IT WAS NOT REQUIRED. AT THE TIME, WE FELT LIKE THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED WAS VERY CLEAR. BUT AT OUR PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, WE ALSO HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON -- IT WASN'T AS CLEAR AS WE THOUGHT. IT DOESN'T COME ACROSS AS CLEAR AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAYBE CONSIDER HOW TO REFRAME OR PROVIDE THE MICRO-LEARNING THAT CHRISTINA WAS TALKING ABOUT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY STARTED THIS CONVERSATION ON HOW TO WE WORK WITH INTERPRETING REFERRAL AGENTS THESE, HOW DO WE PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR INTERPRETERS , IS THAT THEY ARE BEING TOLD INFORMATION THAT IS COMPLETELY INCORRECT AT AGENCIES. OBVIOUSLY, NOT ALL AGENCIES.

I'VE WORKED FOR MANY INTERPRETING AGENCIES, BUT I ALSO GET CALLS FROM FORMER STUDENTS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TOURED, SAYING THIS AGENCY HAS SAID IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO GO AND DO THIS. I DON'T HAVE COURT CERTIFICATION, AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I DON'T NEED IT. AND THAT IS AFTER OUR MOST PREVIOUS BEI FORUM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE INFORMATION -- I'M GOING BACK TO WHAT CHRISTINA SAID. I THINK IT IS

[01:15:02]

AND THEN AFTER IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED AT FORUM, FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE PUT THAT ONTO OUR WEBSITE? FOLLOWING THE TEMPLATES THE STATE WANTS US TO USE, FOLLOWING ALL THE GUIDELINES THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO USE, BUT ALSO MAKING THAT INFORMATION A LITTLE EASIER SO THAT SOMEONE CAN JUST VERY QUICKLY PULL THAT UP, FIND THE GRAPHIC, YES, I SHOULD DO THAT, NO, I SHOULDN'T DO THAT. CHRISTINA MAKES REALLY ACCURATE POINTS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE LEARN TODAY, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IT UP. AGAIN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THE TEMPLATES THAT THE STATE REQUIRES, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO, TO YOU GUYS, TO JAMIE INTO KAYLA AND RYAN TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE PRESENTED. HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE STATES WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EASILY REFER TO IT. I THINK THAT CHRISTINA MADE A REALLY VALID POINT HERE.

THINK THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE CONSUMER FRIENDLY. AND A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE SHARE, BEARS REPETITION. SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO HEAR IT, TO SEE IT. ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE GETTING INFORMATION THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT WE CAN AND SHOULD BE DOING. BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE PROTECTED . AS AN INTERPRETER IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, OR IF I'M WORKING FOR AN AGENCY, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I'M NOT GETTING MYSELF INTO A SITUATION THAT IS NOT IN MY BEST INTEREST, AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHO IS LOOKING FOR MY BEST INTEREST. WHO HAS MY BEST INTEREST IN MIND? MISS ARIANNA.

THAT WE CAN PULL UP QUESTIONS FROM THE PAST BEI FORUM THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS WERE ACTUALLY ASKED AT THAT FORUM, TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO REVISIT FOR JUNE 2024 IN FORT WORTH? ALSO, IF WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFOGRAPHICS ON THE WEBSITE FOLLOWING THE STATES GUIDELINES, CAN WE ALSO PROVIDE THOSE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, AS PRESENTED BY A NATIVE USER OF THE LANGUAGE? BECAUSE I, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, SOMETIMES I READ SOMETHING IN ENGLISH, AS ASHLEY IF IT'S ABOUT LEGAL INTERPRETING OR SOMETHING. AND I READ THE ENGLISH MYSELF, AND IT DOESN'T ALL THE WAY COMPREHEND. AND THEN I SEE IT IN ASL. I'M LIKE, OKAY, NOW I GET IT. IF WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE THAT IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

RECENTLY, I WAS LOOKING AT ANOTHER STATE ENTITIES PROCEDURES FOR SENDING IN FEES FOR TEST AND EVERYTHING. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM BEI, BUT THEY HAD A CHART THAT GAVE -- ONCE YOU SEND IN AN APPLICATION, HERE IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS THAT IT WILL TAKE US TO PROCESS THE APPLICATION AND GET

[01:20:01]

PEOPLE WHO ARE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, FAMILY AND MARRIAGE COUNSELORS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THEY PROVIDED ON THEIR PORTION OF THE STATE WEBSITE, GUIDANCE AS FAR AS, IF YOU APPLY FOR OUR EXAMS, THEN YOU CAN EXPECT TO GET A RESPONSE IN THIS AMOUNT OF TIME. MORE LIKE A GUIDELINE.

ALSO, IF WE CAN MAYBE LOOK INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OUR NUMBERS, AND HOW QUICKLY OR SLOWLY DEPENDING ON STAFF OR WHATEVER, HOW LONG APPLICANTS HAVE TWO EXPECT TO HEAR BACK FROM FROM THE STATE REGARDING THEIR TESTING APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH THE WRITTEN TEP AND FOR ANY OF THE PERFORMANCE EXAMS, OR ANY WRITTEN OR PERFORMANCE EXAM. THANK YOU.

>> SURE. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. WE APPRECIATE THAT. MS. JONES? I'M GLAD WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF MICROPHONES TO CHOOSE FROM.

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. AND I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION I CAN SHARE WITH YOU. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED DURING THE LAST FORUM, AS WELL AS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS. IT WAS SENT OUT AS A NOTICE FROM THE BEI EMAIL BOOKS. I HAVE THAT SUMMARY AND I CAN SHARE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS . I WILL SEND THAT VIA EMAIL SO YOU HAVE THAT. BECAUSE HE CAN'T CONDUCT BOARD BUSINESS THROUGH EMAIL, WHAT I WILL DO IS SEND IT TO EVERYONE WITH A BCC, AND YOU COULD PROVIDE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE DIRECTLY TO ME AND WE CAN COORDINATE AS NEEDED REGARDING THOSE TOPICS THAT WE MAY NEED TO REVISIT DURING THE NEXT FORUM . SO I CAN DO THAT. ALSO, AS FAR AS THE PROCESS MAP CONCEPT OF MAYBE ADDING AN INFO GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS OUR TIMELINE FOR APPLICATIONS IN THE BEI PROGRAM, I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT BACK TO OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SEE IF THAT SOMETHING WE CAN PUT ON THERE. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD FEEL FOR THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE PROCESSING THINGS ON A MORE THAN REGULAR BASIS, AND IT IS VERY CONSISTENT. SO I THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION ON OUR WEB IF PERMITTED. I WILL DO THAT

RESEARCH AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MISS JONES. AND DR. HARRIS.

TO CHRISTINA'S COMMENT. AND YES, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE AN ASL VERSION. MAYBE WE COULD TEAM UP. WE COULD THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD TAKE ALL OF THIS DATA IN ENGLISH AND PUT IT OUT INTO A FORMAT IN SIGN LANGUAGE, THE BEI FORMAT FORUM. WE WILL DISCUSS THAT

FURTHER. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER SPIRIT. AND FOR BEING SO WILLING TO SUPPORT WHATEVER WE NEED. AS WELL, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT SOMETHING THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT, AND PERHAPS, THIS, IF WE HAVE A TIME CAN BE CONSIDERED AT THE FORUM, DRAFTING A LETTER FOR -- TO BE SENT TO COURT, AS WELL AS TO MAYBE INTERPRETER REFERRAL AGENTS THESE ON BEHALF OF BEI THAT OUTLINES THE GUIDELINES FOR COURT INTERPRETING. SO THIS WOULD PUT EVERYONE ON NOTICE ABOUT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE, WHAT THE

[01:25:02]

THOUGHTS? MISS WEB. >> ADVOCATES GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT -- I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT NEEDS TO COME FROM, BUT USING REPORTS AND CITING ACTUAL LAW, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COORDINATORS -- THOSE ARE THE FOLKS YOU NEED TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HIRE YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID. AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE USE THE CORRECT LANGUAGE AND IT COMES FROM SOMEONE ON THE COURT TEAM, AND WE MIGHT ALSO INCLUDE IN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE RECENTLY TO HELP VARIOUS LAWN FOR AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE A BETTER OTHERS DAMNING OF HOW TO INTERACT WITH THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY. MY QUESTION IS, WHO WOULD THAT COME FROM THAT WOULD HOLD THE AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY GET THROUGH OUR COURTS AND TO OUR JUDGES AND COORDINATORS? WHO WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PERSON AND WOULD HAVE THAT TYPE OF

INFORMATION? >> CERTAINLY. WE WANT THIS TO HAVE TEETH. WE WANT THIS TO HAVE AUTHORITY SO THAT IT CAN BE EFFECTIVE. ANY LAST QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? I THINK I SAID THAT LIKE THREE TIMES ALREADY.

[8. Public comment]

THE FLOOR OVER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR MARTIN.

THIS IS KAYLA BROWN WITH THE ADVISORY OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD, NO WRITTEN OR PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED. NO ONE REGISTERED TO PROVIDE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PLATFORM, AND WE HAVE NO ONE HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY REQUESTING PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM,

SIR. >> WE ARE MOVING ALONG QUITE

[9. Future meetings and planning]

ARE THERE ANY IDEAS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, OR FOR FUTURE MEETINGS THAT WE FEEL ARE PRESSING AS WE DEAL WITH SOME ISSUES, AND ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER? MISS

WEB. >> TWO QUICK THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AT OUR NEXT MEETING. UPDATES TO THE CDI EXAM, AND THE SECOND IS, I WOULD LIKE TO START A CONVERSATION -- THIS HAS A PRICE TAG ON IT, SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S WHAT DID TAKE SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT THE CURRENT TEST MODEL THAT WE HAVE IS A VALID, RELIABLE, AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE TEST, BUT IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE WE DEVELOPED TEST MATERIAL ITSELF.

TERMINOLOGY, LANGUAGE CHANGES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE START HAVING A DISCUSSION ON CREATING SOME -- A NEW TEST MODEL, BECAUSE THE MODEL ITSELF IS SOUND, BUT LOOKING AT CREATING SOME NEW TEST MATERIAL TO TAKE IN THE CAN ITERATION. TECHNOLOGY TERMS, COLLOQUIAL TERMS, JUST SO THAT OUR TESTING IS KEEPING UP WITH THE WAY

[01:30:06]

>> THANK YOU. MS. ARELLANO? >> THANK YOU. ALONG WITH WHAT MS. WEBB COMMENTED ABOUT, OUR CURRENT TESTING -- I AM INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED FOR TEST TAKERS, SPECIFICALLY FOR WRITTEN MATERIALS, BECAUSE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE RECENTLY THAT SHOWS THAT PERHAPS PEOPLE WITH DYSLEXIA CAN READ CERTAIN FONTS BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ADD TO MISS WEBB'S DISCUSSION ABOUT EXPLORING A NEW TEST OR, YOU KNOW, UPGRADING, WHAT HAVE YOU, AND INCLUDE WHAT WE CAN FOR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TESTING CANDIDATES. INCLUDING -- YOU KNOW, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING A.D.A. LAW.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. ARELLANO.

DR. HARRIS OR MR. VELASQUEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO SOME THINGS WE COULD DISCUSS, SOME THINGS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING WITH THE BOARD CONCERNING OUR NEXT MEETING? MR. VELASQUEZ.

SENTENCE HERE REGARDING FUTURE MEETINGS AND PLANNING. IN MY HEART, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED FOR ANYONE TO TAKE THE BEI, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE PRIOR TO TAKING THE EXAM. THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE ELSE FEELS. AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE -- I AM JUST -- I DON'T FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE A DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT I'M WANTING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING MORE ADVANCED DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOU ARE ASKING ME, CHAIR BASKETS.

NOTES ARE BEING TAKEN ABOUT EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERPRETERS. AND HAVING A CONVERSATION -- IT THIS RUSSIAN BASED ON YOUR QUESTION. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD? YEAH, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD ANOTHER IDEA, ANOTHER THOUGHT. OKAY. MAYBE NOT. MAYBE IT WAS JUST ME.

>> ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? >> YES.

>> NO, I HAD NOTHING FURTHER.

>> ALL RIGHT. SORRY, INTERPRETERS. I RESPONDED TO WITHOUT INTERPRETATION. I'M SORRY. DR. HARRIS. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, DR. HARRIS.

>> I AM JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY. FOR FUTURE MEETINGS, I AM ALL SET, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STAGE THAT HAS BEEN SET FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS.

YOUR COMMENTS. SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS TO CONSIDER ARE A REVIEW

[01:35:12]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD. I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE US TO HOST TO RTA REPRESENTATIVE. AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, MISS EMILY ROBINSON WAS A BOARD MEMBER WITH THIS GROUP FOR A WHILE, AND SHE WILL BE THE ONE PRESENTING TO US IN MAY, AND I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO HER SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, POINTED QUESTIONS, THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO PREPARE BEFORE SHE COMES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. SO I KNOW THAT INITIALLY, MR. VELASQUEZ HAD MENTIONED WANTING TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT THOSE WERE VARMINTS WERE FOR TA, FOR EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS. FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, WHAT SOME OF THOSE LOOPHOLES MAY BE THAT THEY ARE FACING THAT WE ACTUALLY SEE IN THE REAL WORLD.

SO I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE ISSUE, THE TOPIC AT HAND, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE CAN POST TO MISS

ROBINSON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MS. ARELLANO .

>> MISS JONES, DID YOU WANT US TO EMAIL THOSE TO YOU, OR CAN WE JUST GIVE THEM NOW ? WOULD BE GREAT. NOW IF YOU HAVE THEM CUT THAT WOULD BE BEST.

>> THANK YOU. ONE THING THAT DOES COME TO MIND IS THE USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS AS INTERPRETERS IN THE INTERPRETING POSITION FOR SCHOOLS K-12 SETTING, AND IF THERE IS A LIST, OR IF WE DO HAVE INFORMATION ON ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HIRING CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS ONLY, AND ALSO GETTING THE -- SORRY.

BASICALLY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER POSITION IS ACTUALLY A PROFESSIONAL POSITION AND NOT A PARAPROFESSIONAL POSITION. IF THERE ARE ANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK FOR THEM, IF WE CAN MAYBE LEARN ABOUT THAT MORE TO HELP DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING TO -- TO DO THAT FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.

THERE ARE -- BECAUSE I OFTEN LOOK, JUST TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE, THERE ARE A FEW DISTRICT THAT HAVE PROVIDED A DIFFERENT PAY SCALE FOR INTERPRETERS. BASED ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL STATUS. ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE, OR THEY HAVE A PARTICULAR -- OR THEY HAVE CERTIFICATION. I MAY BE WRONG , SPECIFICALLY WHICH ONES, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHICH ONES. BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE -- THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 THAT I AM AWARE OF. ONE THAT PAYS COMMENSURATE WITH -- WITH WHAT SOME TEACHERS MIGHT MAKE. AND

[01:40:06]

STANDARD. MISS WEBB. >> THANK YOU. I THINK MY QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO HEAR A CLEAR DELINEATION BETWEEN THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR COMMUNICATION ASSISTANT, SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND CERTIFIED INTERPRETER, AND JUST SOME COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND TA TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE INTERPRETING SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. THE QUESTIONS THAT COME TO MIND IMMEDIATELY ARE, NOT JUST THE SKILL LEVEL, BUT THE CERTIFICATION LEVEL OF THE INTERPRETERS AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT A HIGHER SKILL INTERPRETER ARE BETTER SERVED AT THE LOWER END OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, FROM PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE. WHERE LANGUAGE IS DEVELOPING, AND OFTEN, THE INTERPRETERS ARE THE ONLY LANGUAGE MODELS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE WITH MAYBE BASIC LEVEL INTERPRETERS SHIP. SO JUST SOME COLLABORATION WITH TEAM A TO SEE, HOW DO THEY DEFINE THOSE THREE ROLES? MUNICATION ASSISTANT, TECH SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER. AND THEN, SOME CLARITY ON HOW IS THERE ANY CONSISTENCY ON WHERE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTERPRETERS ARE USED WITHIN THAT SCHOOL SETTING.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WOULD BE GREAT CONVERSATIONS FOR US TO HAVE WITH THEM.

>> THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH YOU, AND WE ARE NOT RIVALS IN THIS, BUT RATHER, WE BOTH HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC AND WORKING AS COLLABORATORS, I THINK IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST. MR. VELASQUEZ.

OFF-TOPIC, BUT I WANTED TO GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL STATEMENT.

THAT I THINK HAVING AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE TO SIT FOR THE TEST IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE. AND -- AND I SAID MASTERS, WHAT I REALLY MEANT WAS BACHELORS DEGREE, SO I WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD. I MET BACHELORS DEGREE. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.

THAT, MR. VELASQUEZ. APPRECIATE THAT. WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR TA FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE AT OUR NEXT MEETING? IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE CAN CERTAINLY KEEP THEM BUSY.

ANY OTHER MEETING TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO THROW IN? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE HAD TO GATHER, AND TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT BUSINESS. WE WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, AS WELL AS THE PRESENTERS. THANK YOU TO MR. ROBINSON FOR BEING HERE. MISS JONES, MS. BROWN, AND FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEE WHO ARE BEHIND THE SCENES WORKING HARD ON ALL THIS. AS WELL AS TO THE INTERPRETERS.

[01:45:05]