State commission would coordinate communication help for deaf people

The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing would run a statewide program to coordinate communication access services. The program would support state and local agencies, businesses, and people who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.

The commission would maintain a regional provider list, set minimum standards, share information, and offer agency training and outreach. The list would include providers in rural and urban areas, and outreach would include underserved areas.

The commission could administer help with service costs and scholarships for provider development and certification. Service requests may involve agencies or businesses and people who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing; scholarships would support professional development, internships, and certification testing. The commission could provide service funding and scholarships only if money is appropriated for them. Rules would set scholarship distribution and eligibility for service cost assistance.