Overview
During the 2023 Legislature Session, House Bill 2696 (2023) was enacted, establishing the Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) under the Health Licensing Office (HLO). The bill requires all individuals who perform “sign language interpretation services" to be licensed on January 1, 2024, and requires the Board to determine the minimum qualifications for each license. According to the bill, the Board is unable to begin meeting until after January 1, 2024, and therefore is unable to set those requirements and adopt rules. To bridge the gap between January 1, 2024, and when the Board establishes minimum licensure requirements, the HLO will issue temporary licenses.
Limited Waiver on Enforcement Extended
While the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters, Rules Advisory Committee continues to work through the rule writing process to make rule language recommendations to the Board, the Health Licensing Office (HLO) is extending the limited waiver on enforcement through midnight on June 30, 2026. This means that the HLO is exercising its discretion to not take disciplinary action against individuals who are required to be licensed and choose to work under the limited waiver on enforcement, i.e., not obtain a permanent board license (permanent license).
The limited waiver of enforcement is narrow; the waiver only applies to the singular issue of providing sign language interpretation services in Oregon without a license. The HLO may impose discipline for any other violation of the HLO or Board rules or statutes. The limited waiver of enforcement ends on June 30, 2026. On July 1, 2026, any individual not covered by an exception and providing sign language interpreting (SLI) services will need to have a permanent license to avoid enforcement action by HLO.
What You Need to Know
Scope of Practice Questions
Do you have a question about how a law or rule impacts your individualized practice?
Please know that the Health Licensing Office (HLO) and its boards do not provide individualized advice on how the law applies to practice in the field. Here are some resources:
- If you are looking for an attorney to provide you with legal advice about the statutes and rules governing your licensure, the
Oregon State Bar has information on how to hire a lawyer.
- If you wish to make a complaint against a person for violating HLO and the board's statutes or rules, you may use this
complaint form.
- If you wish to make a public comment on the statutes and rules governing your licensure, interested party feedback is encouraged at all
public meetings.
- Guidance on how to obtain
a license is available on the HLO website.
- If you believe HLO and the board's rules need to be amended, you may file a rule petition with HLO for consideration. Please note that any rules must fit within HLO and the board's current statutory authority. Please also know that the board will consider your position but might not adopt your proposed rule. The statute that governs rule petitions is
ORS 183.390.
- If you believe HLO and the board's statutes need to be amended, information about the legislative process is also available on the
Oregon Legislature's website.
Please know the HLO and its boards remain neutral on substantive bills proposing changes to its laws and cannot act on your behalf in any proposals to change the governing statutes.
Questions?
For questions, please call (503) 378-8667, or go to the Health Licensing Office
Contact Us page to search for staff that specialize in specific areas of expertise.