>> EMILY, I WILL PASS IT TO YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE FEARED
[1. Call to order, roll call, and introductions]
[00:00:08]
THE TIME IS NOW 10:00. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE WITH US TODAY. MY NAME IS EMILY SERE PROGRAM SPECIALIST AND BOARD LIAISON. WILL SERVE AS TODAY'S PRESIDING OFFICER. AS A REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS AND STAFF, PLEASE ENSURE YOU TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. EACH TIME YOU WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT AND STATE YOUR NAME PRIOR TO YOUR REMARKS.ADDITIONALLY PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT. THIS WILL ASSIST WITH COMMUNICATION FACILITATION PROVIDED BY THE INTERPRETERS.
ONCE CALLED UPON PLEASE ALLOW A FEW SECONDS BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING OR SIGNING. THIS ENSURES VIDEO FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND ALLOWS INTERPRETERS TO FULLY CONVEY YOUR REMARKS. I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
BOARD MEMBERS AS I CALL YOUR NAME IF YOU PLEASE COME ON CAMERA AND PROVIDE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF AND THE COMMUNITY YOU REPRESENT. MISS ERIN ADAMS.
>> CAN EVERYONE SEE ME? ALL RIGHT.
-- ERIN. ERIN ADAMS AND I LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. I HAVE B I. MASTER AND MY COURT CERTIFICATION. I'VE BEEN INTERPRETING NOW FOR 22 YEARS. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO
ADD? >> NO, THANK YOU MISS ERIN.
NEXT WE HAVE MISS CHRISTY ALVAREZ.
>> CAN EVERYBODY SEE ME? PERFECT.
HELLO THERE. MY NAME IS CHRISTY.
I HAVE ADVANCED CERTIFICATION AND I WORK FULL TIME AT BRS.
I'M A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST TEN YE YEARS. AND THAT WOULD BE ALL.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTON.
>> HELLO. GREETINGS, EVERYONE MY NAME IS TWYLA LOFTON. MY SIGN NAME IS MY SPELLED NAME.
I'VE BEEN AN INTERPRETER SINCE 1989.
QUITE A LONG TIME. JUST RETIRED.
THE EDUCATION FIELD OF WORK. I AM A INTERPRETER CURRENTLY.
I'M ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND CURRENTLY I'M DOING MULTIPLE JOBS AND I HAVE ENJOYED BEING INVITED TO THIS BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU.
BUY THANK YOU. AND MISS CHRISTINA.
OKAY. >> CAN EVERYONE SEE ME? MY NAME IS CHRISTINA. I WORK AND LIVE IN SOUTH TEXAS, CORPUS CHRISTI AREA. AND MY EXPERIENCE THUS FAR IS AS A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER BACK IN 2001.
AND CURRENTLY I HAVE MY MASTER IN R&D CERTIFICATION.
I'M HONORED TO SERVE ONCE AGAIN AS A BOARD ADVISORY MEMBER.
[00:05:07]
MISS LISA GYLLENHAL. >> HELLO, EVERYONE MY NAME IS LISA. LISA G..
I AM A TEACHER AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I TEACH ASL.
AND A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AS ONE OF THE DEAF PARTICIPANTS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU. AND DOCTOR UGO SEGURA.
>> IT WAS ON HER LAPTOP. OPEN THAT PEER ONE MOMENT.
-- HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS YUKO.
THIS IS MY SIGN NAME. >> THANK YOU AND APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. LASTLY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISS AMBER PATRICK WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE. SHE WILL SERVE AS TODAY'S MEETING FACILITATOR. I'D LIKE TO TURN THE MEETING OVER TO YOU TO PROVIDE ANY LOGISTIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
CONDUCT ROLL CALL. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS AMBER PATRICK WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD COORDINATION OFFICE.
THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS MEETING IS BEING WEBCAST LIVE AND RECORDED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. PLEASE DO NOT USE JARGON OR ACRONYMS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH HHSC POLICY THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ALSO KNOWN AS AI OR AI POWERED NOTE TAKERS IS PROHIBITED DURING THIS MEETING.
ANY AI OR OTHER AUTONOMOUS AGENTS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE MEETING. ANY BOT THAT GAINS ACCESS WILL BE REMOVED. TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND IMPROVE THE WEBCAST EXPERIENCE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, WE ASK THE FOLLOWING.
FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDEES PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO CAMERA AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING.
ONCE FINISHED PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA.
AND MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE IF APPLICABLE.
FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS TO ENSURE SOUND DOES NOT CARRY INTO THE MEETING.
IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A PHONE CALL, MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND TURN OFF YOUR VIDEO TO PREVENT DISRUPTIONS.
FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON, EXIT THE ROOM AND STEP AWAY FROM THE DOORS TO PREVENT SOUND FROM BEING CARRIED INTO THE MEETING. FOR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS, PLEASE SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE OR CLEARLY SIGN INTO THE CAMERAS SO YOU CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD CLEARLY. IF YOU PLAN TO USE A POWERPOINT OR HANDOUT, IT WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR YOU.
WHEN PRESENTING TO ADVANCE THE SLIDES PLEASE INDICATE NEXT SLIDE OR NEXT PAGE WHEN READY. THERE IS TIME ALLOCATED FOR
[00:10:06]
PUBLIC COMMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND PRE-REGISTERED TO PROVIDE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT. PRIOR TO THE MEETING.AS INDICATED ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY WRITTEN OR ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTERS -- REGISTRANTS. NOW I WILL CALL ROLL.
MEMBERS, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, RESPOND HERE OR PRESENT AND BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
MISS KRISTINA. >> HELLO I AM PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTON.
>> HELLO I AM PRESENT. >> THANK YOU.
MISS LISA. >> HELLO THIS IS LISA, I AM
I AM PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU HAVE QUORUM. EMILY, I WILL RETURN THE MEETING
[2. New Member Orientation]
TO YOU. >> THANK YOU MISS PATRICK.
WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEMS TWO A THROUGH C NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION. THE PURPOSE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS IS TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION PRESENTATIONS.
I'D NOW LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE TO PLAY THE PRERECORDED ETHICS PRESENTATION AND TO MISS PATRICK TO PRESENT THE OVERVIEW PRESENTATION.
MY NAME IS DAVID REISMAN. I'M THE CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER FOR HHS. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY ARE TOPICS THAT ARE COMING TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS DURING THEIR SERVING ON A BOARD. THE TOPICS ARE REPRESENTATION, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, DISCLOSURE, MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, HONORARIA, CONF -- CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING, OPEN MEETINGS ACT, BRIBERY AND PUBLIC -- WHAT I MEANT BY OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY NOT CLAIM OR APPEAR TO REPRESENT HHSC OR THE COMMITTEE AT ANY LEGISLATIVE OR ADVOCACY ACTIVITY WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THEIR COMMITTEES PRESIDING OFFICER AND THE HHSC ETHICS OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH THE HHSC GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS OFFICE. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON AND WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY OUT THERE SPEAKING FOR THE AGENCY WITHOUT COORDINATING WITH THE COMMITTEE AND THE AGENCY.
WE'VE GOT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP AND WE NEED LIKE I SAID TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING A REPORT THAT'S BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE WHO REPRESENT OR FROM REPRESENTING YOURSELVES OR OTHER NONSTATE AGENCIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE FOR ADVOCACY PROCESS.
WHAT I ASK IS IF YOU GO TO SPEAK TO A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR THE LEGISLATORS STAFF OR SPEAK BEFORE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE FREE TO SAY YOU SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE BUT ARE THERE REPRESENTING YOURSELF, YOU ARE REPRESENTING ANOTHER ENTITY.
JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THE THING WE HANG OUR HAT ON HERE AT HHS IS DISCLOSURE. WE LIKE TO AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
[00:15:03]
THEY HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY. BUT WHAT WE HANG OUR HAT ON HERE IS THAT WE DISCLOSE THOSE BEFOREHAND, JUST LIKE AN ATTORNEY, JUDGE, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR ANYONE ELSE THAT FACES THESE QUESTIONS. AND TRIES TO AVOID ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. YOU SHOULD DISCLOSE ALL INTEREST -- AND RECUSE YOURSELVES FROM ANY DELIBERATIONS OR DECISIONS ON THAT MATTER. SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT BE CLEAR TO YOU WHETHER IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR NOT BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M HERE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.OFTEN THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S A PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTEREST.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND PROFESSION, TRADE OR OCCUPATION. WHEN THE MEMBER'S INTEREST IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHERS -- I. GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF AN ARCHITECT. I'M A PARTNER IN AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM AND SERVE ON THE ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IF A MOTION COMES UP BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THAT COULD BENEFIT FINANCIALLY ALL THE ARCHITECTS IN THE STATE, SINCE IT AFFECTS ALL ARCHITECTS IN THE STATE SIMILARLY, I CAN PARTICIPATE WITH DELIBERATION ON THAT.
BUT TO SAY THE ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS GOING TO HIRE AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO DO SOME WORK AND I'M A PARTNER ON ONE OF THE FIRMS THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION, I COULD BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THAT SO I WOULD DISCLOSE THAT AND RECUSE MYSELF FROM DELIBERATING ON ANY MATTER -- ON THAT MATTER.
ON THE AGENDA THAT CAME UP BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
OR IF A MEMBER REALLY PROVIDES A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH A PERSONAL PRIVATE INTEREST GIVING FEEDBACK ON SUBJECT MATTER, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. YOU'RE ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE IN CERTAIN MATTERS AND YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN SHARING THOSE BENEFITS TO COMMITTEE AND CERTAINLY THAT'S PERMISSIBLE. THERE'S AN HONORARY PROHIBITION.
BASICALLY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR SERVICES THAT ARE REQUESTED BECAUSE OF THE MEMBER'S TITLE OR POSITION ON THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS. THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT, YOU CAN'T GET PAID AGAIN FOR PAYMENT ON TOP OF THE SERVICE YOU'RE ALREADY PROVIDING.
AND I SPEAK BEFORE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SOMETIMES -- ON ETHICS AND I SAY YES, BECAUSE MY STATUS HERE AT THE CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER. AND I WILL GIVE THE PRESENTATION AND IT MAY BE COMMON FROM THAT ORGANIZATION OR COME UP AT A SPEAKER'S -- I. CAN'T TAKE THAT. YOU ASK ME HERE BECAUSE OF MY STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND I CAN'T GET PAID ON TOP OF THAT. IT'S OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH SPEAKER'S FEES BUT IT CAN BE FOR ANY TYPE OF SERVICE.
SO IF YOU'RE ASKED TO GIVE A SPEECH OR DO SOME SERVICE AND YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF YOUR STATUS ON THE COMMITTEE AS OPPOSED TO YOUR OTHER WORK OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE, THIS HONORARY PROHIBITION MIGHT APPLY.
AGAIN THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO KIND OF HELP YOU DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS, WHAT THE BEST DECISION IS.
PLEASE ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO CALL ME.
I WILL HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AGAIN IS A VERY BROAD AREA PEER COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO DERIVE PERSONAL BENEFIT ACTIONS OR DECISIONS MADE IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND IT'S A BROAD AREA LIKE I SAID THAT COULD BE INTEREST TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF THEY BENEFIT PERSONAL INTERESTS, PERSONAL VALUES, ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES OR PROFESSIONAL VALUES. AGAIN IF IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU THINK IT COULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR NOT, FEEL FREE TO TALK. WE CAN TALK THROUGH IT AND MAKE THE DECISION ON HOW YOU SHOULD PROCEED.
BRIBERY. ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHOULD NOT KNOWINGLY SOLICIT OR ACCEPT ANY BENEFIT FOR HAVING EXERCISED THE MEMBER'S OFFICIAL POWERS OR DUTIES AND -- YOU SHOULDN'T ACCEPT ANY BENEFIT FOR EXERCISING ANY OF YOUR DUTIES ON THE COMMITTEE. THAT OF COURSE IS ANOTHER PENAL CODE VIOLATION. PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT TRAINING WITHIN 90 DAYS OF APPOINTMENT
[00:20:03]
AND SUBMIT A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TO YOUR WORK GROUP LIAISON. IT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW THESE MEETINGS WORK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THESE AND OTHER MEETINGS, HOW THE MEETINGS WORK AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION. WHAT CAN BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC AND WHAT IS PROTECTED. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY NOT DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND ALL GENERATED INFORMATION INCLUDING -- ACQUIRED THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE INFORMATION OR DOCUMENT IS RELEASED OR MADE PUBLIC PEER THE HHS EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER APPROVED THE RELEASE -- OR PERMITS RELEASE. YOU WILL BE GIVEN A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE COMMITTEE. STAFF IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL ABOUT MARKING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL THAT CAN'T BE RELEASED. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO PLAY IT SAFE RATHER THAN SORRY. WE DO HAVE OPEN RECORDS OFFICE HERE AT THE AGENCY. IF I'M EVER ASKED BY ANYBODY FOR ANYTHING, ANY DOCUMENTS OR INFORMATION, I ALWAYS SEND THEM TO OPEN RECORDS. THAT WAY YOU'RE SURE YOU'RE NOT VIOLATING ANYTHING THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL.FEEL FREE TO CALL ME FOR ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS COMING UP.
AND WE ARE A HEALTH RELATED AGENCY SO THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IS COULD BE -- PROTECTED BY THE HEALTH INSURANCE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OR COMMERCIAL BUYER USE SUCH AS TRADE SECRETS AND INFORMATION AND CONFIDENCE BY THE HHS SYSTEM. YOU WILL BE PRIVY TO ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION DURING YOUR TENURE.
JUST BE SAFE, BE -- ON HOW YOU HANDLE THAT INFORMATION.
ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO ASK STAFF OR ASK ME IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP. MISUSE OF PROPERTY.
WE'RE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE PROPERTY, TIME AND RESOURCES WE USE PAID FOR WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHOULD NOT USE STATE GOVERNMENT TIME, PROPERTY FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND THAT AGAIN IS ANOTHER PENAL CODE VIOLATION. PROHIBITION ON LOBBYING.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY NOT EXPEND STATE APPROPRIATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST ANY BILL OR MEASURE.
AT THE BEGINNING WE TALKED ABOUT TESTIFYING BEFORE COMMITTEES OR BEFORE LEGISLATURE AND ANOTHER REASON WHY WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL IS THAT WHERE AGENCY -- TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST ANY MEASURE THAT COMES UP BEFORE LEGISLATURE.
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE WHEN WE GO BEFORE THE HEARINGS OUR MEETINGS ARE ASKED TO TALK WITH MEMBERS AS WE ARE THERE TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION THAT THEY ASK FOR.
SO WE DON'T ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST ANY MEASURE.
ANOTHER REASON YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO TO SPEAK TO COMMITTEE OR A MEMBER IS THAT YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR OWN BEHALF, BUT YOU CAN'T ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMITTEE OR THE AGENCY. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THESE TWO. YOU CAN ALWAYS WORK WITH STAFF IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. IF YOU'RE TESTIFYING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE YOU SHOULD KNOW YOU HAVE CHAIR APPROVAL AS WELL AS COMMITTEE STAFF APPROVAL AND WE WORK WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICE AND MYSELF SO WE ARE SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE. PUBLIC SERVANTS YOU HEARD ME TALK SEVERAL TIMES TODAY ABOUT PENAL CODE VIOLATIONS AND THAT THEY APPLY TO PUBLIC SERVANTS. I SOMETIMES GET THE QUESTION FROM ADVISORY MEMBERS SAYING WHY ARE THESE -- WHY DOES THE PENAL CODE APPLY TO US? WERE NOT STATE EMPLOYEES.
THE STATUTES SAY PUBLIC -- THEY GIVE A DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS WHICH IS A BROADER DEFINITION THAN STATE EMPLOYEES.
AND IF PUBLIC SERVANTS INCLUDES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIKE YOU ALL. YOU ARE SUBJECT TO ETHICS LAWS IN CHAPTERS 36 STATE PENAL CODE AND ELSEWHERE IN STATE STATUTE.
HERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION. I WORK FROM HOME A LOT SO MY
[00:25:01]
WORK CELL PHONE IS GOOD TO REACH ME DIRECTLY OR MY DIRECT EMAIL.I CAN RESPOND BACK TO YOU VERY QUICKLY WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE ARE HAPPY YOU'RE DOING IT.
>> THIS IS AMBER PATRICK WITH A CCO.
JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW MEMBERS HAVE COMPLETED THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ONLINE OMA TRAININGS.
AND HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLETION OF THEIR CERTIFICATES.
THIS FULFILLS THE OMA COMPONENT FOR THE NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION.
WE WILL NOW SHOW YOU THE A CCO NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION OVERVIEW.
AS I'VE SAID MY NAME IS AMBER PATRICK AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE LEAD FACILITATOR FOR THE BOARD OF EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS. ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE A CCO FOR SHORT. ALSO PRESENT TODAY...
FROM THE A CCO TEAM. TODAY'S ORIENTATION IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE YOU WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO TOPICS, PROCESSES AND APPROACHES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND ITS MEMBERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
A CCO WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE STANDARDIZED PROCESSES FOR HCC ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT AND MEETING FACILITATION.
THESE PROCESSES ARE USED ACROSS ALL HHC COMMITTEES AND AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES. A CCO WORKS ALONGSIDE DIVISIONS ACROSS THE AGENCY TO ENSURE MEETINGS FOLLOW ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND POLICIES. HHSC WEBCAST AND LIVE STREAMS ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY FOR STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE AND TO COMPLY WITH HHS POLICY AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FORMAT. MEMBERS MAY JOIN IN PERSON AT THE DESIGNATED HHS PUBLIC MEETINGS LOCATION IN AUSTIN.
MANY PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY USING MICROSOFT TEAMS. WHICH PROVIDES THE MEMBERS ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE CAMERA AND VOICE FEATURE ACCESSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE MEETING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PRESIDING OFFICER TYPICALLY THE CHAIR MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE POSTED MEETING LOCATION.
YOU CAN HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS AND THE OMA TRAINING.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. A CCO STAFF CURRENTLY INCLUDES DIRECTOR, FACILITATORS AND AN APPOINTMENT SPECIALIST.
MY ROLE AS THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS FACILITATORS TO WORK WITH YOUR PROGRAM AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE LIAISON. THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES FOR THE COMMITTEE MEETING. AS IT RELATES TO THE MEETING, PLANNING AND FACILITATIONS, THE ACCO TEAM PROVIDES WE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE COMMITTEE LIAISON AND MEMBERS TO HELP FULFILL THE CHARGE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND PROCESS FACILITATION SUPPORT BEFORE DURING AND AFTER MEETINGS.
THE APPOINTMENTS TEAM WORK WITH PROGRAM AREA COMMITTEE LIAISONS ON APPOINTMENT MADE BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. YOUR PROGRAM AREA COMMITTEE LIAISON IS THE PRIMARY CONTACT CONNECTION BETWEEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE AGENCY.
THE LIAISON PROVIDES THE COMMITTEE WITH THE INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES EFFECTIVELY AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH AGENCY EXPECTATIONS.
THEY WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT THEIR ROLES AND PROCESSES DURING THE PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW PRESENTATION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. PRESIDING OFFICERS MAY BE APPOINTED BY THE HHS EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR GOVERNOR OR
[00:30:02]
ELECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AS DETERMINED BY STATUTE OR ROLE. FOR THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS, THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ARE ELECTED BY THE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERSHIP. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.A QUORUM IS A MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED IN THE STATUTE OR ROLE. A QUORUM MUST BE PRESENT TO HOLD A MEETING AND TAKE FORMAL ACTION INCLUDING MAKING MOTIONS AND VOTING PURE QUORUM FOR THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETER IS FOUR MEMBERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE PUBLIC AGENDAS THE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA THAT INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED, THE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF THE MEETING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MEETING, ACCO WILL PROVIDE LOGISTICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS INCLUDING REMINDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGARDING THE USE OF CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES THROUGHOUT THE MEETING.
REMINDERS ARE PROVIDED FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND PRESENTERS TO PLEASE STATE THEIR NAME EACH TIME BEFORE SPEAKING SO ALL PARTICIPANTS OF THE MEETING KNOW WHO'S SPEAKING AND AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. FOLLOWING THE COMMITTEE MEETING THE WEBCAST TEAMS, EVENTS ARE ARCHIVED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO YEARS ON THE HS EVENT WEBCAST ARCHIVE PAGE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. BYLAWS ARE REFERRED TO AS COMMITTEE RULES. OPERATING PROCEDURES OR OPERATING GUIDELINES. BYLAWS IDENTIFY HOW THE COMMITTEE WILL CONDUCT BUSINESS. THE LAST PAGE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S BYLAWS IS THE STATEMENT BY MEMBERS DOCUMENT THAT EACH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS SIGNS AND TURNS INTO THE DESIGNATED COMMITTEE LIAISON EACH TIME BYLAWS ARE ADOPTED OR AMENDED. THE BYLAWS HAVE NUMEROUS SECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO MEMBERS BY THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAM AREAS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING BYLAWS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR PROGRAM AREA.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. EACH MEMBER BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND IS CRITICAL THAT ALL MEMBERS RESPECT AND CONSIDER VARIED AND OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS TO PRODUCE SOUND PUBLIC POLICY WHILE MAINTAINING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST. WHEN ACCEPTING AN APPOINTMENT, MEMBERS AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT. WHICH IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S WEBSITE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SOME STATUTES OR RULES GOVERNING HHC COMMITTEES WITH -- REQUIRE MEMBERS TO WRITE A REPORT OR SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE OTHER STATUTES OR RULES REQUIRE THE REPORTS TO BE WRITTEN BY AGENCY STAFF. FOR REPORTS WRITTEN BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, COMMITTEE SUPPORT STAFF MAY NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
STAFF MAY PROVIDE THEIR INPUT AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT BUT SHOULD NOT EDIT OR REVISE THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
HHS AND STAFF SHOULD NOT DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN ANY REPORT OR DOCUMENT UNLESS FEDERAL OR STATE STATUTE OR RULES -- RULES SPECIFICALLY DIRECT THE AGENCY TO SUPPORT THE BODY IN THIS FASHION.
THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE REPORTS AND YOUR COMMITTEE LIAISON CAN HELP PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION ALONG WITH THE APPROVED REPORT TEMPLATE YOU NEED TO USE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UNLESS NOTED IN STATUTE RULE OR BYLAW, THE COMMITTEE CHAIR WITH THE APPROVAL OF AGENCY STAFF MAY ESTABLISH SUBCOMMITTEES FOR PURPOSES OF STUDYING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON ISSUES. THE COMMITTEE DETERMINES APPROPRIATE TO THE CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE.
SOME -- SUBCOMMITTEES MUST COMPLY WITH ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAW. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DURING A COMMITTEE MEETING FORMAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN SUCH AS MAKING A MOTION. SPECIFIC STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN ARE LISTED HERE. THE PRESIDING OFFICER CAN REQUEST A MOTION, A MEMBER WILL OFFER A FORMAL STATEMENT REQUESTING THE MOTION. MEMBERS SECONDS THE MOTION.
THE CHAIR STATES THE MOTION FOR THE RECORD.
[00:35:03]
THE CHAIR WILL ASK MEMBERS IF THEY WISH TO DISCUSS THE MOTION.PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE TAKEN IF APPROPRIATE.
THE CHAIR THEN CALLS FOR A FORMAL ROLL CALL VOTE WITH A ACCO FACILITATOR WILL CONDUCT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
FOLLOWING A FORMAL MOTION, COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN AMEND OR WITHDRAW THE MOTION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HERE ARE THE LISTED RESOURCES FOR YOU TO CLICK ON TO FIND WHAT YOU WILL NEED.
THIS CONCLUDES THE ACCO PRESENTATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING THERE'S NONE I TURN THE MEETING BACK OVER TO MISS EMILY CYR.
WE WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS SANCHEZ HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE POLICY DIRECTOR AS WELL AS MR. AARON MOUL DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PROVIDE THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS BEI OVERVIEW PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KARISSA SANCHEZ AND I WILL PROVIDE THE OVERVIEW OF HHSC AND HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE. NEXT SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE. I HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION PROVIDES SERVICES TO OVER 7.5 MILLION TEXANS A. MONTH AND THROUGH MORE THAN 200 PROGRAMS. WE HAVE 37,000 FULL TIME STAFF. OUR VISION AND MISSION IS LISTED HERE BUT OUR MISSION AS WE SERVE TEXAS.
NEXT SLIDE. HHSC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES.
WE PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES, TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY, FOOD BENEFITS AND REHABILITATION AND LICENSING.
LICENSING WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE -- WHAT YOU DO FOR THE WORK FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS.
NEXT SLIDE. HERE WE HAVE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND WHERE OUR SECTION FALLS UNDER HHSC.
YOU WILL NOTICE AT THE VERY TOP WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR WHICH IS OUR GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND OUR EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER WHICH IS STEPHANIE MUTH APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THERE'S SOME RED BOXES AND ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT WILL SHOW WHERE WE ARE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. WE'RE UNDER FAMILY RESOURCES AND ELIGIBILITY SERVICES AND OUR DEPARTMENT SECTION IS FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE.
HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE IS WITHIN FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES AND WE HAVE FOUR PROGRAMS WITHIN HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
THEY ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING WHICH DIRECTOR MEL WILL GO OVER MORE THOROUGHLY. WE HAVE THE CHILDREN'S AUTISM SERVICES PROGRAM, SPECIALTY HEALTH PROGRAMS AND BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
I WILL SHOW YOU IN THE RED WHERE DIRECTOR MEL AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES FALLS WITHIN HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND WE HAVE THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER DHHS.
NEXT SLIDE. I WILL SKIP THIS BECAUSE AARYN WILL GO OVER DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES.
CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE? THAT'S IT? OKAY. THANK YOU MEMBERS.
I WILL STOP THERE. I DID PROVIDE THAT HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW. I DIDN'T GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT THE OTHER PROGRAM AREAS, BUT IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS NOW IS THE TIME. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HHSC OR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE?
I TURN IT OVER TO ERIN. >> HELLO.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE BEEN PENNED.
[00:40:05]
ALL RIGHT PIERRE GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.MY NAME IS ERIN MAO. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES HERE UNDER HHSC.
I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE THE AUDIENCE AN OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT I OVERSEE FOR D SSH.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF INTERPRETERS WE PROVIDE TESTING AND EVALUATION FOR ASL AND -- ORAL INTERPRETING.
THEY CAN TAKE A TEST TO DETERMINE SKILL LEVELS AND WILL BE AWARDED A CERTIFICATION. THE NEXT PROGRAM WE OVERSEE IS THE SPECIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAM STAFF.
IT'S A VOUCHER BASED PROGRAM FOR PURCHASING SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES LIKE A TELEPHONE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A DISABILITY THAT IMPEDES THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE PHONE CALLS. NEXT PROGRAM IS THE EDUCATION INTERPRETING TRAINING PROGRAM. OUR TEAM PROVIDES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. LET ME BACK UP.
THEY PROVIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THEIR SKILLS.
NEXT PROGRAM IS CAMP SIGN. WE PROVIDE A WEEK LONG SUMMER YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COMMUNICATION -- FREE COMMUNICATION BARRIER CAMPING EXPERIENCE FOR AGES EIGHT TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO THEMSELVES ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM AN OUTDOORS TRAINING PROGRAM.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE NEXT PROGRAM WE PROVIDE RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING TO OBTAIN SERVICES THEY NEED FROM THE STATE AND ALSO FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
OR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EMPLOYERS AND PRIVATE ENTE ENTERPRISE. SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BRIDGING COMMUNICATION, ACCESS AND REDUCING BARRIERS AND REDUCING ISOLATION FACED BY INDIVIDUALS AGED 60 AND ABOVE WHO THEY THEMSELVES ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
THE LAST RESORT COMMUNICATION SERVICES PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES SIGN LANGUAGE ACCESS, ORAL INTERPRETING, COMMUNICATION AND REALTIME TRANSLATION TO INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY THEMSELVES ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING WHEN THEY HAVE NO OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR STATE AGENCIES, CSSA WHICH PROVIDES INTERPRETING SERVICES TO STATE AGENCIES THROUGH A NETWORK OF DIFFERENT CONTRACTED -- CONTRACTS WITH INTERPRETING AGENCIES AND REFERRAL ORGANIZATIONS. NEXT SLIDE.
THE CERTIFICATION OF DEAFNESS FOR THE TUITION WAIVER ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO MEET SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO HAVE THEIR TUITION WAIVED AS STATE SUPPORTED POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL HEARING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE OR REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE, INCREASING EMPLOYABILITY AND TO HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ELIGIBILITY PARTICIPATION AS NOT TO BECOME MORE -- TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE DRIVERS IDENTIFICATION ADVISORY PROGRAM PROVIDES DRIVERS WHO THEMSELVES ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING THE OPTION TO OBTAIN A VISOR CARD THAT THEY CAN CARRY IN THEIR VEHICLE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BEING DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, WHICH IS USEFUL DURING AN INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
[00:45:07]
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIT CEU FOR INTERPRETERS.WE FOCUS ON APPROVING DIFFERENT COURSES AND WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE ONGOING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR INTERPRETERS, FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. NEXT SLIDE.
NOW YOU CAN SEE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AS MISS KARISSA MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE STRONG AND MIGHTY TEAM AND CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS AS WE BREAK THEM DOWN INTO TEAMS. ADMINISTRATION, THE BOARD OF EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS TEAM, TRAINING AND EDUCATION TEAM, COMMUNICATION ACCESS TEAM, SPECIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS PROGRAM TEAM.
AND FOR THE BEI AS WE MENTIONED AVAILABILITY FOR A MANAGER A TEAM OF THREE CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR BEI. NEXT SLIDE.
I'D LIKE TO SPOTLIGHT BE. PROGRAM.
BEI CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW, THE MAIN PURPOSE, THE CORE PURPOSE IS TO TEST AND CERTIFY THE SKILL LEVELS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING TO BECOME CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO CONFIRM THAT INTERPRETERS CAN ACCURATELY AND MEANINGFULLY INTERPRET BETWEEN ASL AND ENGLISH. ADDITIONALLY WE MONITOR THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR IMPROVING INTERPRETING SERVICES ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS AND USING VALID, RELIABLE TESTS AND MATERIALS. ALSO WE HAVE A GOAL TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER PROTECTIONS THROUGH SAFEGUARDS THAT PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, ACTIVELY REGULATE THE PROFESSION AND CONDUCT OF THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.
NEXT SLIDE. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME OVERVIEW AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CERTIFICATION LEVELS. WE PROVIDE SEPARATE CATEGORIES AND I WILL DISCUSS THE GENERAL CERTIFICATION WHICH BREAKS DOWN INTO A FEW DIFFERENT LEVELS. ONE THE BASIC WHICH IS OUR MINIMAL COMPETENCY, WHICH IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE K TO 12 GRADE EDUCATION SETTING. AND POST-SECONDARY SETTING.
ADVANCED CERTIFICATION LEVEL SHOWS THE INTERPRETER IS COMPETENT IN A COMPLICATED SETTING, MAY BE ROUTINE MEDICAL, SOCIAL SERVICES, QUASI LEGAL SITUATIONS.
AND THEN THE THIRD LEVEL IS A MASTER CERTIFICATION WHICH IS THE HIGHEST STANDARD FOR THE HIGHEST COMPLICATED MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL, QUASI LEGAL ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALSO DO PROVIDE INTERMEDIARY INTERPRETING WHICH IS LIMITED TO LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FIVE. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, INTERPRETERS THAT CAN NAVIGATE SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATION STYLES INCLUDING DEAFBLIND WHICH IS NOT ROUTINE SIGN LANGUAGE SYSTEMS MAY BE MINIMAL LANGUAGE SKILLS OR COMMUNICATIONS. CHARACTERISTICS OF DEAF CULTURE THAT MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR TO HEARING OR AN INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETER. NEXT SLIDE.
THERE'S THE GENERALIST AND WE PROVIDE SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATIONS WHICH INCLUDE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION.
[00:50:02]
SHOWS INTERPRETERS COMPETENT FOR HEALTH CARE SETTING INCLUDING DOCTORS, PATIENTS INTERACTIONS. THE INTAKE AND DISCHARGE DOCUMENTATION. THE MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS.THE SECOND ONE IS A COURT CERTIFICATION, A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL TEXAS COURT PROCEEDINGS TO INCLUDE -- INCLUDING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, JUVENILE, MEDIATIONS, DEPOSITIONS. THE TRILINGUAL CERTIFICATION WE OFFER TO ADVANCE -- THE TRILINGUAL FOR THOSE WHO SHOW FLUENCY IN ASL, ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND USED FOR ROUTINE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL CONTEXT.
IT GOES UP TO THE HIGH STAKES MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, QUASI LEGAL ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT WOULD BE FOR MASTER TRILINGUAL. NEXT SLIDE.
NOW THE BEI, THE LEGAL AUTHORITY.
WHAT IS THAT? IT'S SET UP UNDER THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCE CODE 7. B AND THE GOVERNMENT TEXAS CODE CHAPTER 2110 FOR THE STATE AGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THEY CERTIFY UNDER THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATION CODE CHAPTER 351 SUBCHAPTER B VISION TWO. THE PROGRAM AUTHORITIES ESTABLISHED UNDER 26 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CHAPTER 360, SUBCHAPTER B SECTION ONE THROUGH FOUR.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD IS TO ADVISE HHSC IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE STATEWIDE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. THE VISION IS TO HELP DEAF, HARD OF HEARING HHSC VALIDATE, CERTIFY INTERPRETERS FOR TEXANS WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEA HEARING.
NEXT SLIDE. FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIMARY CAUSE IS THAT THEY ARE DEVELOPED QUALIFICATIONS TO HELP DEVELOP THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE VARIOUS CERTIFICATIONS BASED ON PROFICIENCY, COMPLAINT REVIEW, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TO REVOCATIONS, SUSPENSION OR PROBATION.
FOR RULE OR POLICY VIOLATIONS. EXPERT CONSULTATION, PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL TRENDS IN THE INTERPRETING PROFESSION AMBASSADORSHIP TO THE PUBLIC, DIRECT PUBLIC CONSUMERS AND FUTURE INTERPRETERS TO DHHS.
RECRUITMENT, RECRUIT AND BUILD UP THE AVAILABLE POOL OF INTERPRETERS STATEWIDE FOR QUALIFYING INTERPRETERS.
NEXT SLIDE. >> MOVING ON TO BOARD LEAD LEADERSHIP. COMPRISES OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED BY EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER REQUIRES TIERS SUCH AS AT LEAST TWO DEATHS CONSUMERS -- TWO DEATH PARTICIPANTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH EITHER AN ADVANCED OR MASTER'S CERTIFICATION. AND AT LEAST ONE MEMBER WHO IS
[00:55:02]
ACTIVE FOR AT LEAST THREE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS.ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERS, MEMBERS MUST RESIDE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND REFLECT THE STATE'S DIVERSITY.
TERMS ARE SERVED AT THREE YEARS. TERMS ENDING IN AUGUST 31ST.
MEMBERS WILL REMAIN PERMANENT UNTIL A NEW ASSIGNMENT IS MADE.
ANY RESIGNATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING OR VIA VIDEO MESSAGE TO BOTH THE CHAIR AND THE BOARD LIAISON.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. FOR BOTH THE CHAIR AND THE VISE CHAIR SELECTION IS DONE BY HAVING THE CHAIR AND VISE CHAIR ELECTED BY THE ADVISORY MEMBERS. THEY SHALL SERVE A TWO YEAR TERM. THERE ARE LIMITATIONS -- A.
LIMIT OF TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR EACH POSITION.
IF THE CHAIR CANNOT COMPLETE A TERM, NOMINATED PERSON WILL BE -- NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. FOR THE CHAIR AND VISE CHAIR FOR PRIMARY ROLE TO SERVE AS THE FOLLOWING.
A LEADERSHIP ROLE PROVIDING DIRECTION DURING THE MEETINGS SUPPORT IN PROMOTING PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING BOARD MEETINGS IN PERSON AS A PRESIDENTIAL OFFICER.
PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING AGENDA ITEMS IDENTIFYING NEEDS BETWEEN LIAISON -- NEXT GOVERNING. ENSURING THAT THE BOARD ADHERES TO THE OFFICIAL CHARGE AND CALLING FOR SUBCOMMITTEES WHEN NEEDED. LASTLY, LIAISON.
REPORTING TO HHSC AND CONFERRING WITH DHHS STAFF FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE BOARD LEADERSHIP REGARDING ELECTION PROCEDURES.
PREPARATION SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS.
NOMINEES -- I'M SORRY, BACK UP. LET ME START OVER.
NOMINEES ARE CONTACTED IN ADVANCE TO CONFIRM WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. IN A FORMAL PROCEDURE WE SHARE PRIORITY MEETING. THE PROTOCOL IS TO FACILITATE -- FACILITATOR WILL CONDUCT A MEETING AND ADOPT VIA ROLL CALL AND NOMINEES. WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SHARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. VOTING METHODS.
MULTIPLE NOMINEES. EACH MEMBER STATES THEIR NAME, PREFERRED CANDIDATE AND THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST WINS.
IF A TIE SHOULD APPEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH A RUN ON ELECTION. A SINGLE NOMINEE FACILITATOR REQUESTS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY ACCLAMATION FOLLOWED BY A FORMAL ROLL CALL VOTE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SUBCOMMITTEES AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBCOMMITTEES.
SUBCOMMITTEES WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE CHAIR WITH AN AGENT APPROVAL ON SPECIFIC ISSUES.
[01:00:01]
THE SUBCOMMITTEE MUST CONTINUE WITH MINUTES AND REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD. THE OMA TRIGGER IF QUORUM OF THE FULL BOARD ATTENDS THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING IT MUST BE POSTED AS A FULL OPEN MEETING. SMS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WILL PROVIDE OBJECTIVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS TO THE BOARD. WILL SERVE AS BOARD MEMBER BUT NOT HAVING ANY OFFICIAL VOTING OR DELIBERATIVE -- OR SERVE IN ANY OFFICIAL DELIBERATIVE CAPACITY.NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. EXPECTATIONS AND INTEGRITY.
BOARD MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY TO WARRANT PUBLIC TRUST BY ADHERING TO OR COMPLYING WITH ALL APPLICABLE, ETHICAL STANDARDS PROVIDED BY HHSC AND ITS OFFICERS AND ALL ASPECTS OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. ONE MOMENT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. LET ME BACK UP.
THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY TO WARRANT PUBLIC TRUST BY ADHERING AND COMPLYING WITH ALL OF THE APPLICABLE ETHICS PROVIDED BY HHSC AND ITS ETHICAL OFFICERS IN ALL ASPECTS OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW CONFIDENTIALITY, WHICH EXPECTS ALL INDIVIDUALS TO HOLD AGENCIES, ROUGH DRAFT INFORMATION WITH THE MOST STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY. WHETHER USED WITH INTERPRETERS IN ATTENDANCE MUST ALSO ADHERE TO THE SAME.
ADVOCACY RESTRICTIONS. MEMBERS MAY NOT CLAIM -- -- WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE CHAIR AND THE ETHICS OFFICE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND MANDATORY FILINGS.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST MEMBERS MUST ABSTAIN FROM VOTING OR DELIVERING ON ISSUES WHERE THEIR FAMILY GAIN MONETARILY OR -- AND ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE TRAINING. MEMBERS MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE OPEN MEMBERS ACT OMA WHICH IS TRAINING 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF APPOINTMENT. SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION TO THE BOARD LIAISON WHICH IS EMILY CYR.
STATEMENT OF MEMBERS YOU MUST SIGN AND SUBMIT THIS DOCUMENT.
WHICH INCLUDES NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF APPOINTMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
LOGISTICS AND PROCEDURES. ATTENDANCE.
MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS MISSING TWO MEETINGS WITHIN A 12 MONTH. MAY RESULT IN A REMOVAL FROM THE
[01:05:04]
BOARD. FREQUENCY.THE BOARD MEETS AT LEAST QUARTERLY DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. QUORUM.
FOR MEMBERS CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR TRANSACTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS. VOTING.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS ARE DECIDED BY A SINGLE MAJORITY ADOPTING OR MENDING BYLAWS REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. REIMBURSEMENT AND TRAVEL.
OUR CURRENT POLICY STATES MEMBERS OF THE BEI BOARD DO NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION, BUT ARE ENTITLED TO ANY TRAVEL EXPENSES, REIMBURSEMENTS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE TO TRAVEL POLICY.
REQUIREMENTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT MUST HAVE DETAILED RECORD OF ALL TRANSACTIONS BY RECEIPTS OR DOCUMENTS WHICH CAN BE SUBMITTED TO LIAISON WITHIN 30 CALENDAR DAYS.
OF THE EVENT. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION.
THESE ARE SOME OF OUR BEST PRACTICES.
ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE MEETING 30 MINUTES EARLY TO TEST EQUIPMENT AND ALSO COORDINATING AND WORKING WITH THE INTERPRETING TEAM. THE AUDIO VIDEO ETIQUETTE IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR VIDEO AND MICROPHONE ON ONLY IF YOU'RE COMMENTING -- IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OR CRITICAL STAFF.
ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING SO OTHERS CAN FIND YOUR VIDEO. IMPORTANT TO USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE LOCATED ON YOUR MONITOR BEFORE COMMENTING AND WAITING FOR THE INTERPRETER TO ALSO PIN YOUR VIDEO.
LASTLY FOR SECURITY PURPOSES ONLY USE THE LINK SENT BY THE FACILITATOR. DO NOT SHARE THIS LINK WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
CONTINUING ON WITH SOME TECHNICAL TIPS.
BEST PRACTICES. YOU CAN USE -- MAKE A SIGN PIN, GALLERY OR TOGETHER MODE WHILE SEEING PARTICIPANTS CLEARLY.
IF YOU'RE JOINING BY PHONE PLEASE BE SURE TO PRESS MUTE SO OTHER DISTURBANCES ARE NOT HE HEARD.
USE THE CHAT FEATURE IF YOU HAVE ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TO MINIMIZE THE MEETING'S INTERRUPTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WINDOWS OPEN YOU CAN USE THE POP OUT FEATURE TO MANAGE THE SCREEN SIZE FOR YOUR MEETING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN USING SLIDESHOWS OR OTHER PRESENTATIONS.
THE SIDE VIEW CAN BE USED BY HOLDING DOWN THE WINDOWS KEY AND ARROW KEY TO CONNECT YOUR MEETING AND THE SLIDES DURING THE MEETING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THAT
[01:10:02]
CONCLUDES THIS PORTION. THANK YOU.IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE BOARD. PLEASE CONTACT OUR ADVISORY BOARD LIAISON. AGAIN THAT WOULD BE EMILY CYR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATIVE OVERVIEW.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON. JACQUIE THANK YOU MISS SANCHEZ
[3. Consideration of April 11, 2025 draft meeting minutes]
AND MR. MAO FOR THAT INFORMATIVE OVERVIEW.WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE FOR CONSIDERATION OF DRAFTED MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 11TH 2025BEI ADVISORY MEETING. MEMBERS RECEIVED A DRAFT -- MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THEM -- WE WILL CALL FOR ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO THE MINUTES.
I'M NOW CALLING FOR ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THE MEETING MINUTES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION. IS THIS REALLY FROM 2025 OR
2026? >> THESE MEETINGS ARE FROM THE APRIL 11TH 2025 BOARD MEETING. THAT WAS OUR PREVIOUS BOARD
MEETING. >> AM I ABLE TO ASK WHY IT'S
BEEN SO LONG SINCE THE LAST? >> ABSOLUTELY WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BOARD VACANCIES AND WE'RE UNABLE TO MEET QUORUM UNTIL NOW.
>> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL PROCEED WITH REQUESTING A MOTION TO APPROVE APRIL 11TH 2025 DRAFT MINUTES.
DOES ANY MEMBER WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTION.
I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MOTION. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION. MISS CHRIS -- KRISTINA.
THANK YOU I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SECOND TO THIS MOTION.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS PATRICK TO CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THANK YOU MISS CYR. THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR THE APRIL 11TH 2025 DRAFT MEETING MINUTES.
MEMBERS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE ANSWER YEA OR NAY OR ABSTAIN. MISS AARYN ADAMS.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTON.
[01:15:50]
YOUR MOTION IS PASSED. YOU MAY CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU MISS PATRICK. CAN WE STOP THE PRESENTATION?
JUST A GENTLE REMINDER PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU BEGIN
[4. Election of Board Officers]
SPEAKING FOR IT TO BE ON PUBLIC RECORD.THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
THIS IS MISS SIERRA. THANK YOU MISS PATRICK.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR.
THE PURPOSE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS TO ADOPT THE OFFICER ELECTED PROCEDURE AND TO ELECT CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS. I NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS PATRICK TO DISCUSS THE OFFICER ELECTION PROCEDURES.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS AMBER PATRICK.
WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THE ADOPTION OF THE OFFICER ELECTION PROCESS. THE FOLLOWING THE PROPOSED PROCEDURE FOR ELECTING PRESIDING OFFICERS.
AFTER LAYING OUT THE PROCEDURE WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THIS PROCEDURE. HHS STAFF WILL ANNOUNCE A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR EACH OFFICER POSITION.
NOMINATIONS MAY BE CALLED PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY BEING SENT TO A DESIGNATED HHS STAFF MEMBER BEFORE THE MEETING.
ON THE MEETING OR BOTH BEFORE AND DURING THE MEETING.
MEMBERS WILL BE ASKED TO NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR ANOTHER MEMBER FOR CHAIR. THE SAME NAMES OF MEMBERS.
FOR MEMBERS NOMINATED BY SOMEONE ELSE, STAFF WILL VERIFY THE NOMINEE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION FOR THAT POSITION.
ONCE ALL NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, EACH NOMINEE WILL BE GIVEN 2 MINUTES TO INFORM MEMBERS OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRESIDING OFFICE IF THEY SO DESIRE.
STAFF WILL CALL EACH VOTING MEMBER'S NAME ONE AT A TIME.
THE MEMBER WILL THEN STATE THEIR NAME -- NAME OF HIS OR HER CANDIDATE. STAFF -- ACCO STAFF WILL RECORD EACH VOTE. ONCE THE VOTE HAS BEEN RECORDED FOR EACH POSITION, THE NOMINEE RECEIVING THE MOST VOTES WILL BE ANNOUNCED. IF THERE IS A SINGLE NOMINATION FOR THE CHAIR AND AFTER ENSURING THAT -- ACCO STAFF CAN CALL FOR A MOTION TO BE MADE FOR THE NOMINEE TO BE ELECTED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT OR ACCLAMATION AND CONDUCT A VOICE VOTE OR ROLL CALL VOTE FOR EACH VOTING MEMBERS THAT HAVE CALLED IN VIA TELECONFERENCE. A ROLL CALL VOTE WILL NEED TO BE CONDUCTED FOR A SINGLE NOMINEE WHEN A MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED AND -- IN A VIRTUAL SETTING.
I'M GOING TO REQUEST FOR A MOTION TO BE MADE TO APPROVE THE OFFICER OF ELECTION PROCEDURES. KRISTINA I. SEE YOU MADE THE MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
[01:20:03]
, I SEE YOU MADE A SECOND. THANK YOU.THANK YOU, LISA. THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS THE ADOPTION OF OFFICER ELECTION PROCEDURES.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY MISS KRISTINA AND MISS LISA.
MEMBERS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE VOTE YEA, NAY OR ABSTAIN.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTON.
>> THANK YOU. DOCTOR YUKO SEGURA.
YOUR MOTION IS PASSED. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE CHAIR ELECTIONS. THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE CHAIR BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING. THEREFORE WE ARE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FROM THE CHAIR. YOU MAY NOMINATE YOURSELF, YOU MAY NOMINATE SOMEONE ELSE. I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO THE MEMBERS TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY NOMINATIONS.
AND RECOMMENDATIONS. >> OKAY, THIS IS LISA.
I WOULD RECOMMEND TWYLA. LOFTON.
>> THANK YOU. DO YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION AS
YES, I DO ACCEPT. >> THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOURSELF?
>> I'VE BEEN INTERPRETING FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS NOW.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT BOARDS.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES, THAT TYPE OF THING. I AM THRILLED TO SEE WHAT CAN IMPROVE OR CHANGE FOR THE BETTER WITH BEI FOR ALL OF TEXAS.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR? MISS LOFTON DO YOU HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL QUESTION OR COMMENT? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION REGARDS TO THE VISE CHAIR, THAT WAS WHO I WAS GOING TO NOMINATE AND THAT WOULD BE KRISTINA ARIANO.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE VISE CHAIR NEXT BUT WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE VOTING PROCEDURE FOR THE CHAIR FIRST. THANK YOU.
SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR, THE MOTION IS TO NOMINATE MISS TWYLA LOFTON AS THE CHAIR.
FOR THE BOARD OF -- FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR A VOTE. THEREFORE MEMBERS WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE -- AND ACCLAMATION APPROVAL.
[01:25:02]
PLEASE STATE YOUR, NAY OR ABSTAIN.>> THANK YOU. MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTON.
>> THANK YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT MISS TWYLA LOFTON HAS BEEN ELECTED THE NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS.
NEXT WE ARE GOING TO PROCEED WITH THE VICE CHAIR ELECTIONS.
THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS DID NOT RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR POSITION SO WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR POSITION.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION RECOMMENDATION.
THEY CAN NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR THEY MAY NOMINATE SOMEONE ELSE.
TWYLA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION OR DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE KRISTINA. SORRY, I CAN'T SPELL.
MISS ADAMS I. SAW YOUR HAND WAS RAISED TO.
>> I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DON'T KNOW THE OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD PRESENTLY SO I'M NOT SURE TO SAY WHO IS OR ISN'T.
BUT THE -- TWYLA JUST NOW WE JUST VOTED FOR HER SUGGESTS THAT SHE'S HEARING. IF SHE IS HEARING, I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE A DEAF REPRESENTATIVE AS THE VISE CHAIR.
IF ONE OF THE OTHER DEAF MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO NOMINATE THEIR
OWN NAME. >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR. A RECOMMENDATION FOR MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A NOMINATION OF A DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEMBER THEY'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH THE NOMINATION BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT OR ACCLAMATION FOR THE BEI VISE CHAIR.
AND THE PERSON WHO WE'RE VOTING FOR IS MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.
MEMBERS, PLEASE WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME SAY YEA, NAY OR ABSTAIN.
I'M SORRY I HAVE A FIRST FOR TWYLA.
I NEED A SECOND TO BE A MOTION BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO THE VOTE.
>> MISS AMBER PATRICK. THIS IS TYLER WITH ACCO.
[01:30:04]
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SHE ACCEPTS THE NOMINATION.>> MISS ARELLANO DO YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION?
WE STILL HAVE A FIRST AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND TO CONFIRM MISS ARELLANO IS BEING NOMINATED FOR THE VISE CHAIR.
>> LISA G., I SECOND THAT. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MISS GELINEAU. SHE SECONDED.
NOW WE WILL GO FOR A VOTE. MISS ADAMS.
>> YES. >> MISS KRYSTI OLIVARES.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR MOTION PASSES.
YOUR NEWLY ELECTED VISE CHAIR WILL BE MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.
AND I NOW TURN THE MEETING BACK OVER TO MISS EMILEE CYR.
>> A MOMENT FOR THE INTERPRETERS TO SWITCH.
[5. Bylaws: Consideration and adoption of amendments to Board bylaws]
THANK YOU MISS PATRICK AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS LOFTIN AND ARELLANO. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5 FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS BYLAWS.MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED THE PROPOSED BYLAWS BY EMAIL PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR MEMBER DISCUSSION TO ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BYLAWS.
IF THERE ARE NONE, I CALL FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BEI AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS PENDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE AND FINAL REVIEW. CAN I HAVE A FIRST FOR THIS MOTION? MISS TWYLA LOFTIN.
>> I MOVED TO ACCEPT. >> THANK YOU MISS LOFTIN.
I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MOTION HERE CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION? MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.
>> I SECOND. THIS IS KRISTINA.
>> GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION. >> SORRY.
GOT A QUESTION HERE. DO WE EXPECT THIS TO PROCEED WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO READ THE MEETING NOTES OR IS THIS
EXPECTED THAT -- >> ABSOLUTELY PICKED THE CURRENT BYLAWS WERE PROVIDED IN THE MEMBER ORIENTATION BINDER GIVEN TO MEMBERS BY EMAIL PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND THE PROPOSED BYLAWS WERE ATTACHED SEPARATELY IN THAT SAME EMAIL.
>> YES, I UNDERSTAND. I'VE READ THEM.
THEY WERE VIEWING FOR APPROVAL OF THE BOARD THE EXPECTATION IS
THAT THIS IS A FORMAL -- >> SORRY KRISTINA.
YOUR VIDEOS FREEZING A LITTLE HERE COULD YOU CLARIFY YOUR
QUESTION? >> WHEN WILL THE BYLAWS BE
[01:35:10]
APPROVED? OR WILL THEY BE READY FOR THEJANUARY MEETING? >> FOLLOWING THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE LEGAL FINAL REVIEW, THOSE BYLAWS
WILL BE POSTED. >> IS THERE A TIME FRAME?
>> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I DON'T HAVE A TIME FRAME.
DOES ACCO? MISS KAYLA KEITH BROWN CONFIRMS IN PERSON IT'S A FAIRLY QUICK PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
KRISTINA SECOND. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION AND I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SECOND TO THE MOTION.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS MOTION I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS PATRICK TO CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO ACCEPT THE BYLAWS AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE. PLEASE INDICATE WHETHER YOU APPROVE BY SAYING YEA, NAY OR ABSTAINING.
>> THANK YOU. MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.
>> THANK YOU. MISS TWYLA LOFTIN.
>> THANK YOU. DOCTOR YUKO SUGIURA.
YOUR MOTION HAS PASSED. I WILL TURN THE MEETING BACK
OVER TO MISS EMILEE CYR. >> THIS IS MISS CYR.
THANK YOU. IF MEMBERS WISH WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A BRIEF TEN-MINUTE BREAK.
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR MEMBER DISCUSSION ON WHETHER TO TAKE THE BREAK OR TO PROCEED. MISS TWYLA LOFTIN.
WE SEE IN COMMENTS MISS ADAMS SAID LET'S HAVE A BREAK.
GO AHEAD. >> I AGREE WITH THE SAME THING.
>> WE WILL PROCEED WITH A BRIEF TEN-MINUTE BREAK.
IF ALL PARTICIPANTS COULD TURN OFF THEIR CAMERAS AND MUTE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES PEER CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? ALL RIGHT GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME BACK.
THIS IS EMILEE CYR. THE TIME IS 1150.
WE WILL RECONVENE FOR THE EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS ADVISORY MEETING PEER I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS PATRICK TO CONDUCT OUR ROLL CALL PEER.
>> THANK YOU MISS CYR. MEMBERS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE INDICATE PRESENT WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED.
MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO. >> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. MISS LISA GELINEAU.
MISS TWYLA LOFTIN. >> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. MISS KRYSTI OLIVARES.
[01:40:04]
DOCTOR UKO SUGIURA. >> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE QUORUM, YOU MAY
CONTINUE MISS CYR. >> THIS IS EMILEE CYR.
[6. Health and Independence Update]
THANK YOU MISS PATRICK. WE WILL BE PROCEEDING TO AGENDA ITEM SIX FOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE UPDATES AND PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MISS KESHA ROWE, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> GOOD MORNING BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION. AS MENTIONED, I'M KESHA ROWE, THE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
THE DIVISION AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN WHICH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING IS ORGANIZATIONALLY STRUCTURED.
ON BEHALF OF THE AGENCY I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF OUR FORMER MEMBERS AND PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND PASSION FOR THIS CRITICAL WORK. SERVING FROM MARCH 2015 TO AUGUST 2025 WITH SERVICE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT LEGAL INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS, USE OF UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETER BY INTERPRETER REFERRAL AGENCIES AND THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGY COMMITTEES.
MARTIN VASQUEZ SERVED FROM 2018 IN JUNE TO AUGUST 2025 WITH SERVICE ON THE SAME SUBCOMMITTEES OF COURT LEGAL INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS AND THE MEDICAL INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS. LI SERVED FROM MARCH 2021 TO APRIL 2025 WITH SERVICE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF MEDICAL HEALTH INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS AND THE USE OF UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETER BY INTERPRETER REFERRAL AGENCIES SUBCOMMITTEES.
DOCTOR HARRIS SERVED FROM AUGUS5 WITH SERVICE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEES OF LEGAL INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS, INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS, THE USE OF UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETER BY INTERPRETER REFERRAL AGENCIES AND THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND FINALLY JOSE VELAZQUEZ FROM AUGUST 2022 TO JUNE 2024 WITH SERVICE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF GENERAL INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS, MEDICAL HEALTH CARE INTERPRETER CODE OF ETHICS, DISCIPLINARY ACTION CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGY.
WE THANK THEM AGAIN FOR THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS -- TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION WILL ALSO BE SENT WE THANK EACH OF YOU NEW MEMBERS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE WAYS IN WHICH EACH OF YOU WILL STRENGTHEN THE BEI PROGRAM. I TURN IT OVER TO DEAF AND HARD
OF HEARING SERVICES DIRECTOR. >> OKAY.
CAN EVERYBODY SEE ME? HELLO, EVERYONE.
YES QUESTION FOR CHRISTINA SANCHEZ SHE MENTIONED MARTIN VELAZQUEZ. IS THAT CORRECT? VASQUEZ. DID YOU MENTION HIM OR NOT?
I DID MENTION MARTIN. YES, MA'AM.
>> OKAY THANK YOU. WAS DISTRACTED.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT KARISSA SANCHEZ RECENTLY MADE THE COMMENT WAS KESHA. ROWE.
[01:45:04]
THAT'S OUR ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER.I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NAMES AFFILIATED WITH THE RIGHT PERSON. I'LL HAVE THE INTERPRETER WATCH ME AS THEY VOICE FOR ME AS I SIGN.
DIRECTOR FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES I. WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE RELATED TO OUR PROGRAM.
I WANTED TO FOCUS ON HOW IT RELATES TO BE E I..
SINCE THE LAST BEI ADVISORY MEETING, WE'VE HAD SOME NEW STAFF JOIN FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THE DHHS IS FOCUSED ON A VARIETY OF SERVICES RELATED TO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS. SPECIFICALLY THE STAFF OUTREACH.
THE OTHER CONTRACT IS THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST SENIOR CITIZENS AND LAST RESORT COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
THESE TWO CONTRACTS WERE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
AS I RECENTLY MENTIONED, WE HAVE SOME NEW STAFF, SOME VACANCIES AND SOME NEW HIRES. WE HAVE SOME PERSONNEL UPDATES TO SHARE. RECENTLY MENTIONED THE BEI MANAGER POSITION IS AVAILABLE. THE BEI MANAGER HAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT ROLE WITHIN A DIFFERENT STATE AGENCY.
D IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF POSTING THAT POSITION WITH A BEI MANAGER. IN THE MEANTIME THE BEI TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS EXPECTED WITHOUT FORESEEABLE ISSUES OR CONCERNS I MYSELF CURRENTLY PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE BE TEAM AND TO CONTINUE THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICES.
WHILE WE'RE HIRING AND ONBOARDING THE NEW BEI MANAGER, I WILL CONFIRM THAT MANAGER WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED.
WITH THE APPROPRIATE EXPECTATIONS THROUGH TRAINING.
>> SECOND. ES CONTRACT MANAGER.
WE FILL THAT POSITION RECENTLY, JANUARY OF 2026.
THAT INDIVIDUAL THE CONTRACT MANAGER IS MELISSA BELL WHO COMES FROM DSHS. PRIOR TO WORKING WITH DSH S., MELISSA HAS WORKED WITH US AT HHSC FOR 11 YEARS AS A PROGRAM SPECIALIST. PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR RESOURCE SPECIALIST CONTRACT. ALSO AS A CERTIFIER FOR THE TUITION WAIVER PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING THE CONTRACT TEAM, MELISSA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR EEI -- BEI RADAR CONTRACT. AND OUR BEI MONTHLY TEST. CONTRACT.
SO PERSONNEL, THE NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE OPEN ENROLLMENT CONTRACT. THIS SPECIFICALLY FOR GREATER SERVICES. DHHS CURRENTLY HAS OPENED ENROLLMENT LOOKING FOR BEI RATERS.
WE'RE SEARCHING AND LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO RATING THE BEI PERFORMANCE TEST.
DHHS IS ONGOING LOOKING FOR MORE READERS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SPECIALITY TEST. AS WE HAVE THE TRILINGUAL TEST,
[01:50:10]
MASTERY TRILINGUAL TEST, OPEN ENROLLMENT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AND WILL BE POSTING IN CHAT LATER.ADDITIONALLY THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE OPEN ENROLLMENT, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO OUR CONTRACT TEAM.
THE NEXT PART I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE LISTENING SESSIONS.
THIS PAST SUMMER DHHS HOSTED SEVERAL LISTENING SESSIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS IN THE FOLLOWING CITY SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, BOSTON, EL PASO, DALLAS ... AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL SESSIONS. THE PURPOSE WAS FOR DHHS TO GAIN SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT USER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. AND WE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK RELATED TO BEI, WHICH I WILL BE DISCUSSING HERE. A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WAS VERY SIMILAR SO WE CATEGORISE THE COMMENTS INTO THEMES WHICH I'LL DISCUSS NOW. FIRST LIKE THE FEEDBACK RELATED TO EXPLORING HOW TO MAKE BEI PERFORMANCE TEST MORE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE. SPECIFICALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AREAS. IDEAS INCLUDE TRAVELING AND PROVIDING TESTING OUTSIDE OF THE AUSTIN AREA.
SO BEI WILL BE DISCUSSING THE IN THE BEI UPDATE SECTION.
NEXT IT WAS CONCERNS RELATED TO THE TEST FOR ENGLISH PROFI PROFICIENCY. AS IT CONCURS CURRENTLY, OUR CURRENT GENERATION READING LEVELS, THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE THE TEST BEING RELATED TO READING AND WRITING OR THE TEST ITSELF SHOULD BE TRANSLATING AS IT SHOULD BE CHANGED TO MORE OF AN AUDIO BASED TEST. BEI WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS.
THIRD, FOR ADVANCED LEVEL TRAINING, COMMUNITY DISCUSSED ABOUT HOW THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH -- LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY TALKS ABOUT HOW IT IS SUFFICIENT THE TRAINING FOR INTERPRETERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A BASIC CERTIFICATION BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING HIGHER LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS OR SPECIALITY CERTIFICATIONS ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH TRAINING.
WHAT'S THE PROGRAM GOING TO DO? WE ASKED OUR EDUCATION AND TRAINING TEAM ON HOW TO ADD MORE CONTENT FOCUSSED ON HIGHER LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS. SECOND, THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO BE EXPLORING HOW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE TRAINING THAT PREPARE INTERPRETERS FOR HIGHER CERTIFICATION AND/OR SPECIALITY TEST. ESPECIALLY IN THE ORDER COURT CERTIFICATION. NEXT ONE, THE COMMUNITY REQUESTED CLARITY AS IT RELATES TO ONGOING EDUCATION.
THE CONTINUING EDUCATION CEUS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE ARE ID. BEI ALREADY DEVELOPED AND RELEASED A RUBRIC THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CEU REQUIRED AND THE APPROPRIATENESS AS THEY APPLY TO THOSE CEU.
TRAINING AND INDICATION WILL BE ALSO WORKING ON DEVELOPING
[01:55:04]
CONTENT ON HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN APPROPRIATELY VERIFY AND UPLOAD THEIR CEUS TO BE A REGISTRY FOR REVIEW.NEXT, THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR MORE IMPROVED COMMUNICATION.
THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY THEMSELVES VOICED CONCERNS THAT THERE'S A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY.
AS BEI AND DHHS WORK TO CONFIRM THAT THE BEI REGISTRY, THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION THAT IT'S UPDATED AND CURRENT.
LAST WHICH RELATES TO THE OPENING SESSIONS WERE A LOT OF DEATH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS MADE SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR MORE CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS TO BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, BEI CURRENTLY OFFERS A CERTIFICATE FOR MEDIATION OR MANY OF OUR CDI USED THAT CERTIFICATION. DHHS IDENTIFIED THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRAINING TO BE PROVIDED TO IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO USE A CDI. AND WANT TO USE AND WHEN TO USE A CDI. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? SO MY QUESTION IS CORRECT TO THE RECENTLY SIGNED FACILITATOR OR FOR A CDI INTERMEDIARY. GREAT THANK YOU.
THE CDI CERTIFICATION, HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN OFFERED OR IS THAT ON HOLD? WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION? I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL CDI TEST AND CURRENTLY CDI FUNCTIONS UNDER THE INTERMEDIARY PROCESS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES THIS IS CHRISTINA.
THE RAIDERS HOW MANY ARE NEEDED? AS THERE A SPECIFIC NUMBER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? DO YOU NEED MORE -- IS IT ENGLISH OR SPANISH OR FOR THE TRILINGUAL? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OR ALL OF THEM I GUESS.
IS THERE ANY SPECIFICS? WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN BEING RATERS BUT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE TRILINGUAL RATERS.
SO DO THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN TE TEXAS? NO. CHRISTINA IS LIKE OKAY GREAT, THANK YOU. GOT ME THINKING.
[7. BEI Update]
OKAY. NEXT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND START A DISCUSSION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BEI UPDATES THAT WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BREAK DOWN. THE FIRST PART I WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROGRAM/REGISTRY.HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND THE NEW DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTS AND A QUESTION ABOUT THE QUESTIONS AND THE UPDATES HERE FIRST I WANT TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE REGISTRY. THE REGISTRY, THERE'S BEEN SOME
[02:00:06]
UPDATES TO THE BEI REGISTRY PLATFORM.APPLICANTS OR USERS TO THE REGISTRY ARE NOW ABLE TO UPLOAD ATTACHMENTS TO THE BEI REGISTRY. THESE TYPES OF UPLOADS CAN INCLUDE COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS DIRECTLY TO THE BEI REGISTRY PLATFORM. AND SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT IN THE PAST YOU HAVE TO REQUEST YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT BE MAILED THROUGH SNAIL MAIL DIRECTLY TO BEI.
BUT NO WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS WHEN YOU CAN UPLOAD A TRANSCRIPT DIRECTLY TO THE REGISTRY. ALSO YOU'RE ABLE TO UPLOAD YOUR NAME CHANGE REQUEST THROUGH THE REGISTRY PLATFORM.
ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
THAT'S THE MOST RECENT UPDATE RELATED TO THE REGISTRY PLA PLATFORM. SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS DOCUMENTS. SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN POSTING SEVERAL NEW DOCUMENTS CONDITIONALLY LETTING YOU KNOW THE NEW DOCUMENTS WILL BE FORTHCOMING. WHILE WE HAVE FINALISED THE STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS POLICY, PROCEDURES, CERTIFICATION PROCESS, PREPARATION, THESE ARE ALL BROKEN DOWN INTO THE BEI HANDBOOK.
THE BEI CEU RUBRIC. THE BEI GUIDEBOOK.
THE BEI STUDY GUIDE. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS A BIT ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE SO YOU GET AN IDEA OF THE ROLE THEY'LL BE PLAYING WITHIN BEI. THE BEI HANDBOOK HAS BEEN REVISED AND HAS BECOME A NEW RESOURCE RATHER THAN CORRECTIONS AND REVISIONS. SO THE OLD HANDBOOK WAS A COMBINATION OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WE'VE DONE AWAY WITH THAT. THE NEW HANDBOOK IS GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY LIMITED TO THE PROGRAM POLICIES.
PROVIDING REFERENCES TO THE APPLICABLE STATUTES AND CODES.
ANY PROCEDURES, CONTENT HAS BEEN MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT.
THE HANDBOOK ITSELF IS MORE COHESIVE, ORGANISED AND PROVIDES CLEAR POLICY DIRECTION. IN ADDITION TO KEY AREAS SUCH AS THE COMPLAINT PROCESS, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND MORE THAN DEATH AND CLEARLY DEFINED.
THE HANDBOOK HAS ALREADY BEEN POSTED AND PUBLISHED OR YOU'RE VIEWING. SECOND THE CEU RUBRIC IS A NEW DOCUMENT THAT IN THE PAST WE DIDN'T HAVE.
IT PROVIDES BEI CERTIFICATE HOLDERS WITH MORE DETAILED GUIDE ON THE CONTENT FOR CRITERIA TO HELP THEM DETERMINE WHERE THEIR CEUS ARE CLASSIFIED. IT FITS FOR THE RENEWAL CERTIFICATION PROCESS. THE RUBRIC PROVIDES MORE TRANSPARENCY AND PROMOTES MORE CONTINUED CEU SUBMISSIONS.
AS THAT RELATES TO THE HANDBOOK, HAS ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED AND POSTED FOR YOUR VIEWING. THE LAST TWO, THE BEI GUIDEBOOK.
THE GUIDEBOOK WILL BE AN ENTIRELY NEW RESOURCE TO SERVE AND PROVIDE A VERY IN-DEPTH COMPREHENSIVE HOW TO GUIDE FOR
[02:05:03]
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING INTERPRETERS OR ARE CURRENTLY CERTIFICATION HOLDERS. THE GUIDEBOOK WILL SUPPORT USERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION.GOING THROUGH THE LIFE CYCLE PROCESS.
INCLUDING INITIAL CERTIFICATION, RENEWING THE CERTIFICATION AND HOW TO USE THE BEI REGISTRY PLATFORM.
THE INTENT IS FOR -- TO HOLD ALL THE PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION NEEDED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO NAVIGATE THE BEI CERTIFICATION PROCESS. AGAIN, THIS HASN'T BEEN POSTED, IT'S COMING VERY SOON. LASTLY THE BEI STUDY GUIDE.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE OLD BEI STUDY GUIDE AND RENEWED THE STRUCTURE TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON TEST PREPARATION.
THE CONTENT ITSELF IS NOT RELATED TO THE TESTING PREPARATION. FOR EXAMPLE, PROGRAM HISTORY, AGENCY BACKGROUND POLICIES, PROCEDURES THAT HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THAT HAS BEEN MOVED OVER TO ANOTHER APPROPRIATE LOCATION. ANY HISTORICAL INFORMATION WILL ONLY BE HELD IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE TEST PREPARATION PROCESS.
THE STUDY GUIDE IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE TEST OCCUR WITH MORE FOCUS AND CLARITY OF STUDY RESOURCES AND WHILE THIS STUDY GUIDE WHEN COMPLETED WILL BE POSTING IN NOTIFYING THE BOARD.
AGAIN, OF THESE FOUR NEW RESOURCES, THE FIRST TWO HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND POSTED. THE FINAL TWO WILL BE PUBLISHED AND POSTED VERY SOON. FOR THE PURPOSES OF BREAKING THESE RESOURCES DOWN, BEI AND THE PUBLIC, THE CLARITY IN THE POLICY, THE GUIDANCE ON THE PROCEDURES AND THE LIMITING ANY POTENTIAL CONFUSION OR DUPLICATION TO IMPROVE THE ORGANISATION, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE READABILITY AND THE PURPOSE OF EACH DOCUMENT. FINDING THE OPPORTUNITY AS IT'S CONNECTED AS THE PROCESS GOING FROM START TO FINISH CREATING A MORE DEDICATED RESOURCE CLARITY OF PURPOSE FOR A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE. AS I DISCUSSED THE REGISTRY, THE REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTATION AND NOW WANT TO DISCUSS A BIT ABOUT THE TEST. ONE OF THE EIS PROGRAM'S MAIN CHARGES TO FACILITATE AND MONITOR THE TEST, TEST ACRES FOR CERTIFICATION. BEI TEAM, THE EXPANDED ACCESS TO CERTIFICATION BY INCREASING TESTING CAPACITY BY AROUND 200%.
HOW WERE THEY TO MAKE THAT INCREASE WAS THE APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY FROM NINE TESTING SLOTS TO 27 TESTING SLOTS MONTHLY. BY THE TEAM INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF BEI TESTING SCHEDULE AND FOLLOWING AND IMPLEMENTING STARTING IN MAY 2026, BEI, THEIR AVERAGE MONTHLY TEST VOLUME HAS INCREASED BY AROUND 24%. FROM AROUND 50 TEST MONTHLY TO 87 TESTS PROVIDED MONTHLY. THAT BEING SAID I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BEI TEAM FOR REALLY ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES, MAKING
[02:10:05]
THIS HAPPEN. NEXT PART, THE DUPLICATE TEST LIKE I MENTIONED IN THE PAST DURING MY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE LISTENING SESSIONS THE IS AS IT RELATES TO A REQUEST FOR MORE TESTING OPPORTUNITIES. RIGHT NOW BEI SEES THE TEST BEING PROVIDED FOR DUAL LINGUAL TEST, THE PROGRAM AS IT CONTINUES TO WORK ON ADJUSTMENTS, HOW THE DUAL TESTING OPPORTUNITY, HOW THAT PROCESS WILL WORK.MORE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE DUAL TEST WILL BE PROVIDED ONCE THAT PROCEDURE AND FLOW HAS BEEN TESTED AND FINALISED.
>> MISS AARON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
>> MAY REQUEST IS FIRST THE COMMENT ABOUT THE TEST -- THAT IS GREAT, WERE TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE MORE TEST MONTHLY. JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE ANY DATA SHOWING THE NUMBER, THE INCREASE OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE COMING TO TAKE THE TEST. THAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THERE'S BEEN SOME TESTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS WONDERING IF THESE ARE LOCAL TEXANS OR MORE TESTERS FROM OUT OF STATE COMING IN.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATA.
AS YOU KNOW THE BEI TEST IS OPEN TO ANYONE THAT CAN COME HERE TO TAKE THE TEST HERE MY SECOND FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS RELATED TO THAT, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO ADVERTISE INTENTIONALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TAKING BEI ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE SPECIALITY COURT AND LEGAL BECAUSE, RIB THERE'S NO CELL.
I KNOW THEY'RE DEVELOPING A TEST FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET UP THE MESSAGING ABOUT BEI. BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. IF WE ADVERTISE AND PROMOTE IT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE WORK ON BEI AND MORE PEOPLE TAKING THE TEST. SO IT'S SOMETHING TO BALANCE OUT. ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE'RE A STATE AGENCY AND SO AS A STATE AGENCY, OUR FIRST COMMITMENT TO TEXANS AND THAT'S OUR MISSION OUR GOAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE AS A PROGRAM OPENS UP MORE TESTING, WE DO LEASE IT TO OTHER STATES TO DISSIPATE AND THAT TESTING PROCESS. SO THE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE THE TEST TO OTHER STATES, SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN OPTION.
SHE SAYS THANK YOU. >> MISS CHRISTIE OLIVARES.
>> YES, I WANTED TO SECOND WHAT AARON MENTIONED.
I THINK THAT'S AWESOME WE'RE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TESTS TAKEN. MY QUESTION IS RELATED TO -- SINCE THE TESTS -- SINCE WE HAVE THAT NUMBER INCREASE DOES IT ALSO IMPACT THE TURNAROUND TIME WITH TEST SCORES AND RESULTS? SO FAR THE ANSWER IS NO. WE'RE WORKING HARD TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF READERS. THE CURRENT TURNAROUND TIME IS STILL WITHIN THAT REASONABLE AMOUNT.
THAT IS NICE TO HEAR. THANK YOU.
[02:15:04]
WAITING FOR THE PIN. THERE WE GO.JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW DOES THE GROUP CONTINUE WITH WRITTEN TEST NOW? THERE A -- ARE THINGS GOING WEL, ARE WE BEHIND? AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WE DO HAVE OPEN ENROLLMENT AND OPEN ENROLLMENT WAS JUST POSTED.
WE JUST ONBOARDED A HUGE NUMBER OF RATERS AND MANY HAVE DONE WELL. SO I DO WANT TO ADD THAT WE'RE ALSO ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SPECIALISED RATERS WITH THE HOPES TO KEEP THE TURNAROUND QUICKLY.
AND AGAIN I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE LOOKED INTO BUT ARE WE CAUGHT UP CURRENTLY OR ARE THERE ANY BACKLOGS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO STATE ANYTHING OUT OF TURN BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THANK YOU.
WAS THERE SOMEONE ELSE? I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION REGARDING THE COMMENTS MADE WITH BEI.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DUAL TESTING.
TAKING THE WRITTEN AND THEN THE PERFORMANCE AT THE SAME TIME OR ON THE SAME DAY. AARON SAYS YES THAT IS CORRECT.
ANNE SAYS THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU MR. ROWE AND MR. AARON FOR THOSE UPDATES.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS WE WILL PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM EIGHT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS PATRICK TO FACILITATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO IN-PERSON WRITTEN OR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS PER? PROCEED TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
[9. Future meetings and planning]
>> THIS IS EMILY, THANK YOU MISS PATRICK.
WILL NOW BE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9 TO DISCUSS UPCOMING AND FUTURE MEETING DATES.
OUR NEXT BOARD FOR THE EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD JANUARY 21ST 2027 FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M. THE FOLLOWING MEETING WILL BE HELD APRIL 20TH 2027 FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M.
AS THE BOARD LIAISON I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NEW COMMITTEE CHAIR VISE CHAIR AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO DETERMINE THE ONGOING MEETING CADENCE FOR FUTURE MEETINGS.
WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10.
TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE TO BOARD MEMBERS,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.