Sara Boswell Janes

This regulation establishes fees for interpreters.

This regulation is necessary to establish the fees which generate the revenue that the Board needs to operate.

The regulation is in conformity with KRS 309.309(3), KRS 309.312(1)(a), and KRS 309.314(1), (2), and (4) which authorize the Board to charge fees.

This regulation assists the board in establishing fees which generate the revenue which the Board needs to operate effectively to protect the public it is charged to serve.

The amendment increases fees and strikes reference to refunding the licensure fee for a denial and the late fee for temporary licensees since there is no grace period.

The amendment is necessary to increase fees because the costs for administrative and legal services have led the Board to operate with an annual budget which leaves no room for needed services that may be requested under the ADA or investigations into board complaints; and, to strike language authorizing the board to refund the licensure fee for denials; and, to strike the late fee for temporary licensees since there is no grace period but rather a requirement for reinstatement. The Board is also in hopes the increase in the late fee will serve as a deterrent for filing a late renewal.

The amendment to this administrative regulation is in conformity with the authorizing statute that gives the board the ability to promulgate regulations related to fees as are necessary to operate in such a way to protect the public it is charged to serve.

The amendment will provide the Board with additional revenue necessary to continue to operate and fulfill its statutory duties.

There are 533 full and 45 temporarily licensed interpreters who will be affected, as well as an unknown number of new applicants.

The individuals identified in question (3) will be required to pay greater fees to obtain, renew or reinstate a license.

It will cost those entities twenty-five (25) – forty (40) dollars in additional costs depending on whether they apply for or hold temporary or permanent licensure or file a late renewal during the grace period.

The Board will be able to continue providing the services that the Board currently provides including the ability to provide reasonable accommodations for services that may be requested and for the protection of the public by investigating unethical and illegal practitioners and ensuring that qualifications are met by initial licensees.

No new costs will be incurred by the changes.

No new costs will be incurred by the changes.

The board’s operations are funded by fees paid by credential holders and applicants.

This amendment specifically relates to a fee increase but the change will not cause any additional services to be used which would require additional revenue to implement the regulation.

The amendment to this administrative regulation increases fees.

This regulation does not distinguish between similarly situated individuals on the basis of any factor.

KRS 309.309(3), KRS 309.312(1)(a), and KRS 309.314(1), (2), and (4).

Kentucky Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is an administrative body created by KRS 309.302 and the promulgating agency.

None.

This amendment should generate approximately an additional $17,000 in revenue for Board operations and expenses.

Unknown.

This amendment should generate approximately an additional $17,000 in revenue for Board operations and expenses.

None anticipated.

None.

None.

None.

There will be no difference in expenditures, revenues or cost savings to local entities in subsequent years.

There are no other regulated entities not otherwise listed.

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The fee increase should generate about $17,000 in additional funds as it constitutes a twenty-five (25) dollar increase annually on approximately 533 full licensees and a twenty-five (25) dollar increase on approximately 45 temporary licensees. Additionally, new applicants will be paying a twenty-five (25) dollar increase which should provide some additional revenue if the Board continues to gain new licensees. Additionally, the late renewal fee for filing for renewal during the grace period will increase from sixty (60) dollars to $100 which will hopefully deter someone from filing late renewal. Costs associated with procuring an investigator as may be needed for complaints cannot yet be determined but any government contract awarded for an investigator will have a cap based on budget allowances and will hinge on the number of complaints filed requiring investigation, which cannot be determined. Further, requests for reasonable accommodations under the ADA are dependent upon the required services and a dollar figure cannot be determined on unknown requests and needs. However, one of the services now being requested is costly, as explained in Q. 3(c) herein, and may become an accommodation that will be required to be provided. The board currently has $49,200 each fiscal year for its operations. Each quarter the Board is allotted $12,300. Any dollars left at the end of each quarter will roll over to the next quarter, but will not roll over to the next fiscal year. At the end of FY2023, there was $6,461.05 left of the Board’s allotment that was not spent. However, the Board is initiating a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an investigative services contract with a cap of $5000, and the Board anticipates the upcoming need to provide Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) services at its meetings in the future. These services range in cost from $125 - $150 per hour with a two (2) hour minimum, with mileage or set-up fees in some cases for in-person services. KBI Board meetings are typically three (3) to five (5) hours in length and the board has four (4) regular meetings per year. Additionally, the Regulations and Complaints Committees meet as needed, which are open meetings and may also require CART services. Finally, the Policy Committee is a creature of statute under the umbrella of the Board. When the Policy Committee meets the Board provides administrative services and contracts for interpreting services as are required for open meetings, and which may also require CART services. If CART services are requested or otherwise offered, the current budget will not cover these Board expenses. Therefore, the Board believes additional funds will be needed to meet obligations for ongoing board expenses and obligations.

The board requested its fiscal administrator for a budget analysis and extrapolate the increase in board funding based on what it considered to be a modest increase in fees, in an effort to fund the investigation contract, CART services and other accommodation requests.

. This administrative regulation will not have an overall negative or adverse major economic impact to the entities identified.

Methodology and resources was a review of the existing budget by the board’s fiscal administrator as well as consideration of the amendment and whether staff time and costs will be increased.