Oklahoma § 56-199.1 - Powers and duties

§ 56-199.1. Powers and duties

A. The Commission for Rehabilitation Services shall:

1. Promote the coordination of efforts and services on behalf

of the deaf and hard-of-hearing;

2. Inventory the various services available for meeting the

problems of the deaf and hard-of-hearing and assist persons in

locating and securing such services;

3. Collect studies, compile bibliographies, gather information

and conduct research with respect to the education, training,

counseling, placement and social and economic adjustment of the deaf

and hard-of-hearing and with respect to the causes, diagnosis,

treatment and methods of prevention of impaired hearing;

4. Keep informed of and cooperate with federal, state and local

programs available for the improvement of the general welfare of

deaf and hard-of-hearing persons;

5. Appoint advisory or special committees when appropriate for

in-depth investigations and study of particular problems and to

receive reports of findings and recommendations; and

6. Make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature

with respect to modifications in existing services or establishment

of additional services for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons.

B. 1. Personal client information obtained or created in the

course of providing services to persons who are deaf or hard-ofhearing pursuant to this section shall be confidential. Such

information shall include, but is not limited to, the client's name;

work or home address; work or home telephone number; and social

security number.

2. Persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have the same

legitimate expectations of privacy in the conduct of their daily

lives as do persons who can hear. As a result, information obtained

or created in the course of providing interpreter services pursuant

to this section shall be confidential to the extent necessary to

protect those expectations. Confidential information related to

interpreter services shall include, but is not limited to, personal

client information; the purpose for which the client requests

interpretation; the entity with which the client communicates by way

of an interpreter; the date, time, location and duration of the

interpreted communication; and the name of the interpreter.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 110, § 4, emerg. eff. April 6, 1972. Amended

by Laws 1986, c. 7, § 1, eff. July 1, 1986. Renumbered from § 2404

of Title 63 by Laws 1986, c. 7, § 6, eff. July 1, 1986. Amended by

Laws 1993, c. 364, § 12, emerg. eff. June 11, 1993; Laws 1998, c.

246, § 21, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.