Public Act 23 of 2007

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• Introduced by Sen. John Gleason (D) on January 24, 2007, to explicitly place in Michigan law the same requirement imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act that a potential private employer, health care facility, educational institution, or financial institution must hire a "qualified interpreter" for the deaf or blind in any employment, medical, educational or financial situation involving a deaf or blind person, and also establish that a "qualified interpretor" is only one who has been certified by through the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or another national organization recognized by state authorities. The bill would also authorize criminal penalties for a person posing as a qualified interpreter without the necessary credentials or government approval.
  • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 24, 2007.
    • Reported in the Senate on April 18, 2007, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on May 16, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that divides the bill's original provisions between this bill and House Bill 4208. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 16, 2007.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. John Gleason (D) on May 22, 2007, to establish sanctions for violations of this law by certified interpreters or applicants, including suspension or denial of certification, and civil fine of up to $10,000. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 22, 2007.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. John Gleason (D) on May 22, 2007, to clarify a technical reference in a provision contained in the bill. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 22, 2007.
• Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 22, 2007.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on May 22, 2007.
  • Referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee on May 22, 2007.
    • Reported in the House on May 29, 2007, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
• Passed 110 to 0 in the House on June 5, 2007, to explicitly place in Michigan law the same requirement imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act that a potential private employer, health care facility, educational institution, or financial institution must hire a "qualified interpreter" for the deaf or blind in any employment, medical, educational or financial situation involving a deaf or blind person, and also establish that a "qualified interpretor" is only one who has been certified by through the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or another national organization recognized by state authorities. The bill would also authorize criminal penalties for a person posing as a qualified interpreter without the necessary credentials or government approval.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on June 28, 2007.