Oklahoma Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 11, 2021) |
TITLE 612. State Department of Rehabilitation Services |
Chapter 10. Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired |
Subchapter 13. Special Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing |
Part 3. CERTIFICATION OF INTERPRETERS |
SECTION 612:10-13-23. Formal hearing
Latest version.
- (a) A formal hearing may be requested by the complainant by contacting the designated Oklahoma interpreter certification program official. The hearing will be scheduled at a time and place convenient to all parties concerned. All parties will receive two weeks notice of the hearing date.(b) The complainant and/or respondent may invite a representative (including legal) to assist during the proceedings. Either party may present witnesses, affidavits or other written documentation related to any relevant aspect of the charge or defense.(c) The hearing will be conducted by a grievance board selected by the Oklahoma interpreter certification program Advisory Committee and the Department. At least one member must be deaf or hard of hearing and must be either a former or current Oklahoma interpreter certification test evaluator; one member must be an interpreter holding national or Oklahoma State Level V certification; one member will be selected at the discretion of DRS and may be from a profession other than interpreting for the deaf, but must be knowledgeable of interpreter skills. The grievance board will review information presented and make a determination of the facts. Based upon this determination, the grievance board will recommend the appropriate action the Oklahoma interpreter certification program should take. Possible actions are set forth in (1) through (8) of this Subsection.(1) The complaint be dismissed;(2) A written warning be issued;(3) A written reprimand be issued indicating unsatisfactory performance;(4) Probation a trial period for a specific length of time during which the interpreter is required to fulfill a set of conditions to improve work performance or work behavior;(5) Supervision - removal of the individual from the list of certified interpreters for a specified period of time, not to exceed six (6) months;(6) Revocation - removal of the individual from the list of certified interpreters for an extended period or permanently;(7) The complainant may be retested using a different evaluation team at no cost to the individual; and(8) A change in policy or procedures in the interpreter evaluation process.(d) The decision of the Oklahoma interpreter certification program grievance board will be reviewed by the designated interpreter certification program official who will notify all parties involved in writing of the decision within thirty (30) days. If a party is dissatisfied with the outcome of a formal hearing, an appeal may be made to the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services. The Director shall have forty-five (45) days to render a decision. The Director's decision shall be final.