209.247.  Communications access services program established — definitions — commission duties — fund, use of moneys — rules. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Commission", the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing;

  (2)  "Communication access services", shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

  (a)  Qualified interpreters, as described in section 209.285;

  (b)  Communication access realtime translation services;

  (c)  Notetakers, visual or Braille boards, and visual video services;

  (d)  Open and closed captioning services;

  (e)  Environmental access support for the deaf-blind and those with low vision; and

  (f)  Any other effective method of making aurally delivered and printed information available to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;

  (3)  "Communication access service provider", an individual who is trained to offer a communication access service to communicate aurally delivered and printed information to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.

  2.  The commission shall establish a statewide communication access services program to improve compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act for agencies and businesses by coordinating resources, filling service gaps, and assisting with costs related to accommodations.  The commission shall:

  (1)  Develop and maintain a statewide registry of communication access service providers, organized by region, including rural and urban areas;

  (2)  Create a process for communication access service providers to apply for placement on the registry;

  (3)  Establish minimum standards for training, equipment, and technology;

  (4)  Maintain an informational website accessible by businesses, agencies, and individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing regarding resources and available programming;

  (5)  Provide consultation, training, and technical assistance to aid state and local agencies to be in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act;

  (6)  Provide information regarding available resources to assist with compliance costs and to support potential communication access service providers in underserved areas;

  (7)  Conduct outreach activities for urban or rural residents and communication access service providers to expand awareness and capacity in underserved areas;

  (8)  Subject to appropriation, administer scholarships for professional development, internships, and certification testing;

  (9)  Subject to appropriation and pursuant to rules promulgated under this section, administer and finance requests for communication access services between agencies and businesses and individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;

  (10)  Hire a program manager to serve at the pleasure of the director of the commission.  The program manager shall have a background and experience in communication access services.  The salary for the program manager shall be paid out of the fund established in subsection 3 of this section; and

  (11)  Submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly that includes information on communication access service utilization, registry effectiveness, funding outcomes, and recommendations for improvement.

  3.  (1)  There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Communication Access Services Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund and any gifts, donations, grants, and bequests from individuals, private organizations, foundations, or other sources for the purpose of administering the program established in this section.  The state treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund.  In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements.  The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used by the commission for the salary of the program manager, distribution of financial assistance for communication access services, and distribution of scholarships under this section.

  (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.

  (3)  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

  4.  The commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section, including the process for distributing scholarships under subdivision (8) of subsection 2 of this section and determining eligibility for financial assistance under subdivision (9) of subsection 2 of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.