South Carolina § 40-84-110 - Definitions.

§ 40-84-110. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Agency" means:

(a) the departments of state government enumerated in Section 1-30-10;

(b) the offices of all statewide constitutional officers;

(c) the Judicial Department;

(d) all public institutions of higher education;

(e) the Commission on Higher Education;

(f) police stations;

(g) county and state detention centers and correctional facilities; and

(h) any other board, commission, or council created by a statute of this State; but

(i) excludes school districts, school boards, charter schools, and special schools.

(2) "Deaf person" means a person who cannot use his hearing for communication purposes.

(3) "Interpreting" is the act of conveying meaning between people who use signed and spoken languages, conveying all essential elements of meaning and intent and where such process is offered in exchange for remuneration.

(4) "Recognized certification" means a certification in sign language interpretation as approved by the South Carolina Association of the Deaf, the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

(5) "Sign Language" or "American Sign Language" or "ASL" means a visual-gestural language that incorporates facial grammatical markers, physical affect markers, spatial linguistic information, and fingerspelling, as well as signs made with the hands. ASL is a distinct language with its own grammar and syntax that is neither based on nor derived from a spoken language.

(6) "South Carolina Association of the Deaf" or "association" or "SCAD" means the state chapter of the National Association of the Deaf acting as a consumer advocacy organization serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing population of South Carolina, as incorporated at the time of enactment, or any successor organization of it.

(7) "South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf" or "SCRID" means the state affiliate chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, serving as an interpreter-advocacy and professional organization, as incorporated at the time of enactment, or its successor organization.

HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 188 (H.3795), SECTION 2, eff January 1, 2024.