(1) The department may, on the request of any hearing-impaired person, city, village, town, or county or private agency, provide funds from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (1) (da) and (hs) to reimburse interpreters for hearing-impaired persons for the provision of interpreter services. (2) The department shall grant priority to requests to pay fees charged by interpreters for the following, in the following order: (a) Emergencies. (b) Medical, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, psychiatric and psychological services. (c) Legal services and civil court proceedings. (d) Matters concerning law enforcement personnel. (e) Matters concerning any federal, state, county or municipal agency. (3) The department shall maintain lists of qualified interpreters under s. 885.37 (5) (b). (4) The department may use as an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons only the following: (a) An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons who is certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf. (b) If an interpreter under par. (a) is unavailable, an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons whose qualifications have been determined appropriate by the department. (5) The department may bill any public or private agency at the rates established by the department for interpreter services for hearing-impaired persons commensurate with the certification or qualification level of the interpreter providing services if the department determines that the agency is required under state or federal law to provide interpreter services to a hearing-impaired person or if the agency agrees to pay for the services. (6) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
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