[00:00:01]
PLEASE START THE RECORDING AND TRANSCRIPTION FUNCTIONS.
[1. Call to order, roll call, and introductions]
GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 10:00 AND WE WILL BE BEGINNING OUR BOARD FOR THE EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS MEETING FOR.WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING RATHER.
WE WANT TO WELCOME THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS EVERYONE WHO IS JOINING US TODAY.
UM, WE WANT TO REMIND MEMBERS TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE YOURSELF WHEN SPEAKING.
SORRY. AND ALSO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AND JUST GIVE US A MOMENT SO THAT WE CAN GET THE INTERPRETERS, HAVE THE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE TO INTERPRET THE COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE. AND THAT WAY NOTHING IS LOST IN OUR COMMUNICATION.
WE'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE RESIGNATION OF MISS EMILY ROBINSON.
MISS ROBINSON WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THIS BOARD.
HOWEVER, HER SPOUSE HAS RECENTLY BEEN HIRED AS THE DIRECTOR OF FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES AND IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR MS..
SHE HAS THUS TENDERED HER RESIGNATION.
THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS ITS APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT THAT MS..
ROBINSON HAS GIVEN TO THE BOARD.
AND I INVITE THE RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES WHEN THEIR NAME IS CALLED.
WE HAVE MS.. CRISTINA ARELLANO.
THIS IS CRISTINA ARELLANO AND I AM FROM CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.
THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. WE ALSO HAVE MISS ELENA WEBB.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
AGAIN, I'M MARTIN VASQUEZ AND I AM FROM SAN ANTONIO.
I'D LIKE NOW TO TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO MISS KAYLA BROWN.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ.
MY NAME IS KAYLA CATES BROWN, AND I AM WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE. THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING WEBCAST LIVE AND IS BEING RECORDED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
PLEASE DO NOT USE JARGON AND ACRONYMS. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE VIEWING THE WEBCAST AND TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
WE ASK THAT EACH VIRTUAL ATTENDEE TURN ON THEIR VIDEO CAMERA AND STATE THEIR NAME EACH TIME.
[00:05:01]
WE ALSO ASK THAT MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON, MUTE OR VIBRATE IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL.PLEASE TURN OFF THE VIDEO AND MICROPHONE OPTIONS FROM YOUR VIEWING DEVICE FOR MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS PARTICIPATING IN PERSON. WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE SO THAT YOUR VOICE AND COMMENT CAN BE HEARD.
THESE MICROPHONES ARE DIRECTIONAL.
YOU CAN PICK THE MIC UP BY THE BASS TO MOVE IT FOR YOUR COMFORT.
PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON, MUTE OR VIBRATE.
MEMBERS AND STAFF AND PRESENTERS WHO HAVE CALLED IN MAY SEE A SLIGHT DELAY IN WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AS A RESULT OF THE BANDWIDTH OF YOUR COMPUTER.
THERE IS TIME ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IN ADDITION, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ABLE TO PRE-REGISTER TO PROVIDE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO HAVE ONE STAKEHOLDER PREREGISTERED TO PROVIDE COMMENTS VIRTUALLY TODAY.
THESE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE IN LISTEN ONLY MODE UNTIL IT IS TIME TO PROVIDE THEIR TESTIMONY.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON MAY ALSO REGISTER TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS BY COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE.
AND WE DO HAVE ONE STAKEHOLDER REGISTERED ON SITE TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY TODAY.
FOR EVERYONE PRESENTING IN PERSON RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED AT THE ROOM ENTRANCE WHEN YOU COME IN.
TURN IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT DOWN THE LOBBY HALLWAY.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE WATER FOUNTAINS, TURN RIGHT AND YOU WILL SEE THE THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S RESTROOMS. NOTE THAT EMERGENCY EXITS ARE LOCATED AT THE BACK ROOM WHERE MANY OF US CAME IN IN THE SIDE DOORS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA TOPICS PRESENTED TODAY, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL MESSAGE TO THE BOARD LIAISON, JAMIE JONES AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE CHAT SECTION AND THE BOTTOM OF THE POSTED PUBLIC AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ROLL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE. MR. JOSE OVIDIO VELASQUEZ.
I'M HERE. CHAIR VAZQUEZ YOU ONLY HAVE THREE MEMBERS.
YOU MAY WE WILL GO AHEAD THEN.
[2. Consideration of January 27, 2023, draft meeting minutes]
AND TABLE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH WAS A VOTE ON THE MINUTES AS WE CANNOT TAKE ACTION DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM.YOU MAY PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM THREE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[3. Health and Independence update]
UM, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE OUR ATTENTION TO MISS KEISHA ROWE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE SERVICES.[00:10:18]
THIS SEQUENCES IN THE PLATFORM.MS.. R0. THIS IS JOHN SARCONE.
CAN YOU HEAR US? MR. KESHA ROSE, THIS IS JOHN CHACON.
CAN YOU HEAR US? JOHN, THIS IS TESSA WITH THE ACO, WILL REACH OUT TO HER.
AT THIS TIME, WHILE OUR PRODUCTION TEAM IS REACHING OUT TO THE PRESENTER FOR NUMBER THREE, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SECTION, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE.
AND TO INTRODUCE MR. BRYANT ROBINSON, THE DIRECTOR FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MR. VASQUEZ. I AM HONORED TO BE HERE FOR THIS MEETING TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE DIRECTOR OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES.
WE HAVE HAD AN EXTENDED POSTING FOR NOMINATIONS OF NEW MEMBERS TO FILL.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A FEW MORE UPDATES ON THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES.
WE DO HAVE CURRENTLY THREE VACANCIES, ONE IN STEP, BUT ONE IS THE STEP MANAGER, WHICH IS MY OLD POSITION AND WE ARE CLOSE TO MAKING A HIRING DECISION ON THAT.
CONTRACT SPECIALIST POSITIONS AVAILABLE.
WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS FILLING THOSE ALSO.
AND SINCE OUR LAST ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, WE HAVE HIRED A NEW TRAINING AND EDUCATION TEAM LEADER, MR. TREVOR ANDERSON.
AND THE PROGRAM SPECIALIST POSITION THAT WAS VACANT LAST MEETING.
MISS ALI KITTEN PLAN WILL BE EXPLAINING HER NEXT ROLE WITH THAT.
THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES HAS BEEN VERY BUSY FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.
WE DO HAVE THE SUMMER INSTITUTE AND WE HAVE TWO SESSIONS PLANNED.
THIS WEEK WAS THE FIRST SESSION FOR THE PRE CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING TO TAKE THE BASIC CERTIFICATION TEST.
AND NEXT MONTH, DURING JULY, THE THIRD WEEK OF THAT MONTH, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER SUMMER INSTITUTE SESSION, WHICH WILL BE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED AS A BASIC TO HELP THEM ADVANCE UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF ADVANCED.
AND WE ARE ALSO VERY THRILLED TO SHARE THAT IN SEPTEMBER, THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES WILL BE HOSTING EVENTS RELATED TO DEAF AWARENESS MONTH, AND YOU CAN EXPECT ANNOUNCEMENTS LATER AS THAT COMES UP.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THE UPDATES I HAVE TO SHARE AT THIS TIME.
AND I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD.
[00:15:03]
THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, MR. ROBINSON AND AGAIN, WELCOME TO YOUR NEW POSITION.HAS MISS KISHIRO BEEN ABLE TO UNMUTE AND TURN HER CAMERA ON IN THE PLATFORM? NO, MA'AM. THIS IS TESSA.
WONDERFUL. YOU MAY PROCEED, MISS ROWE.
[4. Report from Deaf and Hard of Hearing]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TO MEET WITH YOU.
SAY WELCOME TO EACH OF YOU AND WISH YOU A HAPPY FRIDAY.
THE SESSION ENDED ON MAY 29TH.
I'M SORRY, PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT IMPACT THE AGENCY.
SO FOR US, THE SESSION REALLY DID END ON MAY 29TH UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES AND THE GOVERNOR ADDS ADDITIONAL ISSUES TO THE CALL, AS I MENTIONED IN JANUARY, IS RETAINED ITS BASE FUNDING FOR THE MOST PART, THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE OF $82,000.
THAT'S JUST KIND OF BASED ON A MIX OF FUNDING AND SO FORTH THAT WE THAT WE DID NOT RETAIN.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A LOOK AND IT COVERS WHAT WE CALL THE NEXT BIENNIUM, SO THAT WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND FISCAL YEAR 2025. UNFORTUNATELY, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, WE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS A REQUEST THE AGENCY MAKES BEYOND WHAT IS OUR REGULAR BUDGETED AMOUNTS FOR.
THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM HAD REQUESTED $1.1 MILLION TO SERVE ADDITIONAL CLIENTS AND REACH THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT FUND THAT INITIATIVE.
AND SO BRYANT AND HIS TEAM WILL BE WORKING DILIGENTLY, AS THEY ALWAYS DO, ON CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND MITIGATE THAT GAP IN SERVICES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST CONTRACTS MOVING FORWARD.
I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, MS.. ROWE. WE APPRECIATE THAT REPORT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS? WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
MS.. ROWE BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT THOROUGH AND CONCISE REPORT THAT YOU HAVE JUST GIVEN.
IT'S MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
[5. BEI manager report]
ALL RIGHT. SO THEN WE WILL BE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.AND NOW WE WILL BE LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE WORKINGS OF THE BI AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO DAILY.
AND WE'D LIKE TO ASK MISS ALI KITTEN PLAN ALLISON KITTEN PLAN FOR COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND AS WAS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS ALI KINTON PLAN.
[00:20:01]
MY NAME SIGN IS THIS.I AM A CERTIFIED PROGRAM MANAGER AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS HAPPY AND IS HEALTHY AND HAPPY AS WELL.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM FOR THE TEAM.
WE HAVE A FEW PROGRAM UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.
AS FOR OUR PERFORMANCE TEST UPDATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023 BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2022 AND MAY 31ST OF 2023, WE'VE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 350 APPLICATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE TESTING.
THAT PUTS OUR AVERAGE AT 37 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED PER MONTH.
REGARDING THE DATABASE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS TIMEFRAME.
AS OF MAY 31ST OF 2023, INTERPRETERS HAVE ALREADY UPLOADED 791 IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT DOCUMENTS AND I'M SORRY, 5000 AND 112 DOCUMENTATIONS STRAIGHT TO THE REGISTRY. IN PROCESS.
WE HAVE 1700 OVER 1700 IN PROCESS, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 152 PER MONTH.
THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 152 PER MONTH.
AS OF UPDATES REGARDING THE TEAM, THE MOST RECENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST POSITION THAT BRYANT WAS RECENTLY DISCUSSING, WE HAVE OPENED THAT POSITION AS OF FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND THAT POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED AS OF APRIL 3RD, 2023 IS GILLIAN GRUTZNER AND THIS IS HER NAME SIGN.
AS HAS ACCEPTED THAT POSITION.
SO SHE IS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
SHE'S ALSO RECEIVED A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING.
SHE'S KNOWN AS THE JILL OF ALL TRADES IN OUR IN OUR WORLD.
AND SHE LITERALLY EMBODIES THAT.
IN THE PAST, SHE HAS WORKED FOR INTERPRETING PROGRAMS AS A SUPPORT TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT THEIR FIRST DEAF INTERPRETER INTERPRETING OWNED AGENCY.
JILL IS ALSO SERVED IN A COMMUNITY AS A FREE LANCE CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETER.
AND SHE IS COMMITTED TO EVOLVE THAT THE GROWTH AND EVOLUTION OF THAT INTERPRETING FIELD.
JILL, DO YOU MIND TURNING YOUR CAMERA ON AND TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE? HELLO. HELLO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALI, FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.
AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS JILLIAN, AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I MUST SAY THAT THE LAST FEW MONTHS, MY TIME WITH THE TEAM HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
I'VE ALREADY WORKED ON SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE PROGRAM AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH EVERYBODY HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, GILLIAN.
WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT THINGS WITH YOU.
WE'RE ALSO TOO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THE TEAM RECENTLY RECEIVED AND RECEIVED NEW EQUIPMENT.
SOME NEW VIDEO CAMERAS, SOME NEW MICROPHONES, AS WELL AS SOME DEMO MONITORS AND RECORDING AUDIO.
AUDIO AND VISUAL EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS BACKDROP.
[00:25:04]
BACKDROP. SETUP.THIS ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT WILL GO TO IMPROVING THE TEST EXPERIENCE FOR ALL FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO RUN THE TESTS.
AND THIS WILL BENEFIT THE CREDITORS WITH THEIR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
WE STRIVE TO HAVE THE BEST PROGRAM FOR ALL INTERPRETERS INVOLVED.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND CEDE THE FLOOR BACK TO MARTIN VELASQUEZ.
THANK YOU, ALI. WE APPRECIATED THAT REPORT.
JILLIAN GRUETZNER FOR JOINING THIS FABULOUS TEAM.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT YOU WILL DO AS WELL.
[6. Discuss interpreter referral agencies using unqualified interpreters]
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.WE'D LIKE TO THEN ENTERTAIN THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE ISSUE RELATED TO REFERRAL AGENCIES USING UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS. SO I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT HERE.
ANY COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE? REFERRAL AGENCIES THAT ARE USING UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS.
I'M SORRY. YOU ALL JUST KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
ET CETERA. IT HAS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE THAT INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETERS ARE OFTEN HAD COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST THEM FOR WORKING IN AN AREA WHERE THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY CERTIFIED OR QUALIFIED, AND THE BOARD HAS TAKEN SOME ACTION AGAINST THEM.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HELP ADDRESS OR REDRESS THE SCALES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE OFTEN COMPLAINED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT IF WE COULD GET TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENDING THEM OUT, SO REFERRAL AGENCIES, INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETING AGENCIES, AGENCY OWNERS, THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE OFTEN.
SO WE KNOW WHEN WE CAN AND CANNOT WORK IN A PARTICULAR PLACE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER. NO ONE'S GOING TO CARE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE START TO CONSIDER IS HOW CAN BE OR THE STATE OF TEXAS, THROUGH OUR RULES, GUIDELINES, POLICIES, BEGIN HOLDING AGENCY OWNERS OR REFERRAL AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETERS WHO HAVE VIOLATED OUR CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD THERE IS A CURRENT COURT CASE IN THE VALLEY WHERE THERE IS A PERSON FACING SOME VERY SERIOUS CHARGES, AND IT HAS COME TO LIGHT THAT THERE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST CERTIFIED OR QUALIFIED.
THERE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST QUALIFIED PEOPLE INVOLVED.
AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A CRITICAL CASE.
[00:30:06]
TO PROTECT OUR DEAF COMMUNITY AND TO PROTECT THE INTERPRETERS? BECAUSE YOUNG UNEXPERIENCED INTERPRETERS WILL OFTEN RELY ON AGENCY OWNERS, REFERRAL AGENCIES TO SAY, WELL, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD.SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION WITH.
AND I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE QUORUM TODAY, BUT MARTINA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND CHRISTINA, I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU YET, BUT I AM VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR.
I. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? LET ME JUST STOP AND ASK THAT.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANY ANYTHING IN PLACE, AND THAT IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO. IT'S RATHER THAT WE HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THIS KIND OF ACTION TO GO AFTER TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REFERRAL AGENCIES.
WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE COULDN'T LOOK INTO THIS AND KIND OF MONITOR WHAT IS GOING ON THERE AND MAYBE MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD POSSIBLY IMPROVE THIS SITUATION.
CHRISTINA, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM.
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO TO SHARE.
UM, I ALSO AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA IN SOUTH TEXAS.
I LIVE IN THE CORPUS CHRISTI COASTAL BEND AREA, AND I'M CONCERNED FOR MEMBERS OR, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, DEAF BLIND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING QUALITY WORK FROM INTERPRETERS WHO MAY JUST BE SENT FROM AN AGENCY TO SAY, YES, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO FILL THE POSITION RATHER THAN PERHAPS RESCHEDULING.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE SERVING MULTIPLE CLIENTS, ONE CLIENT IS PAYING FOR THIS AND THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT IF I, IF I POSTPONE THIS, IT'S GOING TO COST EXTRA MONEY.
UM. I DO LIKE MR. VASQUEZ, THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THAT JUST BECAUSE THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE THINK, OH, WELL, WE HAVEN'T DONE IT.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST.
NO, I'M HOPING THAT THIS THAT'S WHAT SOMETHING THIS BOARD CAN DO IS SAY.
WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST AND THAT CAN CHANGE.
SO I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF OF THOUGHTS JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND HOW JUST THINGS ABOUT CONSIDERATIONS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR VERSUS PRIVATE SECTOR OR NONPROFITS, YOU KNOW, AGENCIES THAT ARE RUNNING AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN THOSE THAT ARE COMPLETELY ON THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, WOULD THEY WOULD THEY BE WOULD THERE BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS OR WOULD THERE BE DIFFERENT RULES APPLIED OR I'M SORRY, I'M NOT GETTING MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER CLEARLY, BUT JUST NONPROFIT VERSUS FOR PROFIT AGENCIES JUST TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
UM, AND THEN TO THE TURNAROUND FOR UM, AT THOSE AGENCIES.
THOSE WHO ARE FILLING THE INTERPRETING COORDINATOR POSITIONS.
IS IT JUST ONE PERSON? IS IT A TEAM OF PEOPLE? AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOMETIMES I'VE SEEN WITHIN AN AGENCY THE COMMUNICATION DOESN'T HAPPEN AMONG THE AGENTS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN AN AGENCY.
AND SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING AT SOME LEVEL ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH, YOU KNOW, ANY STANDARDS THAT MIGHT BE SET IN THE FUTURE? AND HOW CAN WE KEEP TRACK OF THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW HIRES FOR AGENCIES THAT ARE, UM, THAT ARE TRAINING, UM.
[00:35:04]
PEOPLE TO GET INFORMATION FROM BUSINESSES THAT CALL IN REQUESTING INTERPRETERS, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER THING, TOO.OKAY, IS THIS A RIGHT FIT FOR ME? AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
MAYBE SOME MORE, UM, AN OUTLINE OF THINGS TO ASK.
UM. TWO BEFORE EVEN REACHING OUT TO INTERPRETERS FOR WORK.
UM, AND THEN JUST HOW, HOW TO MONITOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THAT? WOULD THAT BE AN ADDITIONAL, UM, THING THAT, THAT THE BY PROGRAM YOU KNOW DHHS THE WITH INPUT FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD JUST MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT ADDING TOO MUCH AND MAYBE USING TECHNOLOGY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO STREAMLINE THIS SORT OF PROCESS MAYBE INCLUDING RECORDED WEBINARS THAT CAN BE VIEWED FOR NEW HIRES AT SAID AGENCIES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY WATCH, UM, TRAINING VIDEOS AND THAT THOSE ARE POSTED TO FOR ANYBODY TO GO BACK FOR REFRESHERS MAYBE THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR INPUT ON THIS AND ELENA AS WELL.
WE YOU MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS.
I WAS THINKING BEFORE YOU MENTIONED IT ABOUT THE COMPLIANCE THAT WOULD PROBABLY REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES OFFICE THE BY PERHAPS.
AND SO IT IT'S ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE.
THIS WILL CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS BOARD AND FOR AND FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.
ELENA, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? I DO. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.
THERE WE GO. UM, CHRISTINA, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ALWAYS NEED TO DO THAT.
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT A WAY TO CHANGE.
I THINK PEOPLE REALLY ARE TRYING.
I THINK THAT IT APPLIES TO ENOUGH FOR BE TO START LOOKING AT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN PUT SOME STEPS IN PLACE THAT WOULD PROTECT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED SO THE AGENCY OR THE AGENCY OWNER, THE INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETER, THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING PERSON AND THE HEARING PERSON WHO HIRED THAT INTERPRETER? THERE ARE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION.
I THINK THIS IS MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN BABY STEPS WHERE WE START SAYING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF PUTTING SOME RULES, GUIDELINES, REGULATIONS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE WANT TO CALL THEM IN PLACE SO THAT AGENCIES UNDERSTAND YOU TWO ARE GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY SENDING OUT UNQUALIFIED, UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL MAY NOT BE THE BEST.
I WROTE DOWN A COUPLE OF NOTES.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, ALL OF US AS PRACTICING INTERPRETERS LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GIVEN, THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GIVEN FOR A PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT.
WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE.
WE MAY SHOW UP AND FIND OUT, OH, THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIT.
AT THAT POINT IS WHEN WE START HAVING TO MAKE OTHER ETHICAL DECISIONS.
AS AN INTERPRETER, I'VE BEEN IN MULTIPLE COURT SETTINGS WHERE I SHOW UP TO DO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO.
[00:40:07]
BETTER. OKAY.BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S CAUGHT, I FEEL LIKE THE ACCURACY OF THE RECORD HAS TO BE FIRST.
AND I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT I WILL INTERPRET TO THE BEST I CAN TELL YOU, I WILL INTERPRET TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, BUT I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT A NON-NATIVE ASL USER IS GOING TO UNDERSTAND OR BE UNDERSTOOD.
SO I THINK THAT THOSE INDIVIDUAL.
DECISIONS HAVE TO STAY IN PLACE AND THAT THAT WE WORK THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED.
I'M NOT. LOOKING TO ADD ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORKLOAD ONTO BAE.
THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS JUST WE PUT WE FIGURE OUT HOW HOW THIS CAN BE HANDLED.
IS IT RULES? IS IT PROCEDURE? IS IT POLICY? IS THIS SOMETHING BEYOND DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES OR BEYOND? BAE WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSTEP, BUT JUST TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS AND THEN.
I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN, I'VE OPENED TO.
FEEDBACK, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD CAUSE AN INCREASED WORKLOAD.
IT WOULD BE IF A COMPLAINT IS FILED WITH BY THEN, IT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.
AND AT THAT POINT, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD ACT ON? IF YES, IS THAT ACTION GOING TO BE DIRECTED SOLELY AT THE INTERPRETER WHO HAD THE COMPLAINT FILED, OR WILL THIS ALSO INVOLVE AN AGENCY OR AN AGENCY OWNER? SO. WE DON'T GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE EITHER ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AND THEY DON'T NEED THE COMPLAINT OR PEOPLE ARE RETICENT TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
AGAIN, WE'VE SAID, AND I STAND BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT A POLICING AGENCY.
AGENCY OWNERS, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE HELD TO THAT AS WELL.
WELL, ONE OTHER COMMENT, AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO ASK CHRISTINA A QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF THING IS INTENDED TO KEEP BASIC LEVEL INTERPRETERS FROM WORKING.
I THINK BASIC LEVEL INTERPRETERS HAVE TO GET OUT THERE.
THEY HAVE TO WORK. WE ALL DID THE SAME THING WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG.
IN OUR PROFESSION, IT'S THERE ARE CERTAIN.
GUIDELINES AND MAYBE IT IS DONE WITH VIDEOS.
CHRISTINA. MAYBE THE OWNERS CAN FIGURE OUT OR THE AGENCY FOLKS CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY.
YOU'VE GOT A NEW HIRE. WE NEED YOU TO WATCH THESE VIDEOS THAT THE AGENCIES CREATE, NOT THE FBI OR DHHS CREATES, BUT REALLY TO PUT THAT OWNERSHIP BACK INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO ARE GUIDING THOSE NEW INTERPRETERS.
AND I LEARN BEST, I THINK, BY MAKING MISTAKES.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW WOULD THAT HOW WOULD THOSE BE DIFFERENT OR HOW WOULD THEY NEED TO BE DIFFERENT SO THAT WE'RE PROTECTING EVERYBODY THAT WE CAN AND HAVING A GOOD BUSINESS MODEL, I GUESS, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST STARTING THIS.
WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT? THIS IS CHRISTINA.
BECAUSE I KNOW HAD A SPECIFIC THOUGHT IN MIND WHEN I FIRST MENTIONED IT.
UM. I THINK IT WAS AS FAR AS LIKE COME.
COMPLIANCE GOES AND DOES THE STATE HAVE? UM. GUESS.
A FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, AUTHORITY OVER NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND FOR PROFIT AGENCIES EQUALLY TO BE ABLE TO. JUST TO BE ABLE TO EXPECT THE SAME THINGS FROM ANY KIND OF INTERPRETING AGENCY, WHETHER IT'S NONPROFIT OR FOR PROFIT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE MY THOUGHT WAS COMING FROM.
I'M GOING TO TURN I'M GOING TO QUIT TALKING AND JUST FOR A SECOND, I PROMISE.
[00:45:05]
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD START FOR US TO.FINALLY TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO MOVE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING GUIDANCE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR ADVISORY BOARD DOES AS WE PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS, GUIDANCE, RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GREAT TIME FOR US TO START LOOKING AT HOW DO WE ALIGN.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT JUST RULED THAT FAMILIES OR LET ME BACK IT UP.
THEY HAVE RULED THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
FOR NOT PROVIDING CHILDREN QUALIFIED CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS.
THAT WAS A LONG, LONG TIME IN COMING.
AND NOW THAT THAT SUPREME COURT RULING HAS BEEN MADE, WE NOW HAVE PRECEDENTS THAT WE CAN ACT ON AND WE CAN LOOK AT IF THAT APPLIES TO A CHILD'S EDUCATION, TO A CHILD WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AS PART OF THEIR FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
SORRY TO OUR INTERPRETERS. I'LL WAIT A SECOND.
BUT IF THAT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO RULE ABOUT A CHILD'S EDUCATION, THEN I THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME VERY CLEAR GUIDELINES OF HOW THAT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO.
AND I THINK WE CAN APPLY THIS.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR US TO START LOOKING AT IT, NOT BEING AN ATTORNEY, NOT HAVING.
ANY KIND OF UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO APPLY.
JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS OUT THERE AS A GREAT JUMPING OFF PLACE.
I LOOK AT IT AS A MATTER OF BEST PRACTICES AS WELL AS ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND CHRISTINA MENTIONED ABOUT REMUNERATION OR RATHER WHO'S PAYING FOR FOR THESE SERVICES.
ARE THEY REALLY GETTING WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR? AND IF IT'S A STATE AGENCY, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING PROPERLY USED.
AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT, ABOVE ALL, GOOD COMMUNICATION IS TAKING PLACE SO THAT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH WHAT IS BEING SAID. SO THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DISCUSSION.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT IS LACKING THE VIEWPOINT OF MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE WHO ARE DEAF, WHO I'M SURE HAVE VALUABLE INPUT INTO THIS AS WELL.
WE'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO TURN.
WE DO HAVE MISS ARELLANO RAISE HER HAND AGAIN.
YES. THANK YOU. MARTIN THIS IS KRISTINA.
AND I DO WANT TO ECHO MY AGREEMENT WITH MANY OF THE THINGS THAT BOTH YOU AND ELENA HAVE SAID ABOUT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS ALL AGENCIES AT ALL.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO OUR BOARD TO OVERSTEP AS WELL.
YES, THIS IS FOR BEST PRACTICES AND KEEPING ACCOUNTABILITY AND YES, YES, YES.
DEAF INPUT IS INCREDIBLY NECESSARY.
UM, WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT.
AND ONE MORE CONSIDERATION FOR THE FUTURE.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS A WHOLE.
UM, PROBABLY EVEN BECAUSE JUST MY RECENT EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERPRETER, EDUCATOR AND A TWO YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS PERHAPS LOOKING TO MAYBE SET SOME TYPE OF GUIDELINES FOR, UM, STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS IN INTERPRETING PROGRAMS, PERHAPS TO REFERENCE, TALK ABOUT YOUR INTERNSHIPS.
INTERN. STUDENT I'M SORRY, YEAH.
INTERNSHIP STUDENTS ABOUT, ABOUT TALKING TO AGENCIES.
[00:50:03]
SOME OF, I'M SURE SOME OF THE ITPS DO THAT VERY WELL AND THEIR GRADUATES FEEL WELL PREPARED TO ENGAGE WITH THE AGENCIES MAYBE. AND, AND I'M SURE IT DIFFERS.UM, AND I JUST HAD AN EXPERIENCE, UM, WITH A FORMER STUDENT OF MINE, GRADUATED AT LEAST THREE YEARS AGO, NOW CERTIFIED AND IS ASKING ABOUT OKAY, UM, AN AGENCY ASKED ME FOR THIS, THIS AND THIS.
FOR WORK AS A FREELANCE INTERPRETER.
NEWER, YOU KNOW, NON CERTIFIED OR CERTIFIED AND JUST STARTING TO WORK SOME GUIDELINES OR SOME SUPPORT FOR THEM ON MAYBE EVEN QUESTIONS TO ASK THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WORKING FOR AN AGENCY.
UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE.
YOU KNOW, THE INTERPRETER, THE THE JUST THE INTERPRETER.
ALL RIGHT? THAT'S MORE LIKE IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE NEWER INTERPRETERS.
YES. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THOSE COMMENTS.
ELENA, DID YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER? JUST TO ECHO WHAT CHRISTINA JUST SAID, I THINK IF WE GET THIS MESSAGE ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO THE START, AT THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY'RE IN THEIR INTERPRETER TRAINING PROGRAMS, THEY NEED TO BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED.
AND OUR OUR COLLEGE HAS ALSO MADE SURE THAT THOSE.
CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW DO YOU WORK AS A FREELANCE INTERPRETER? HOW DO YOU BASICALLY INTERVIEW THE AGENCY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO AGREE TO WORK FOR? AND JUST TEACHING INTERPRETERS TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE REPUTATION THAT THEY'RE BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT CHRISTINA SAID AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CEDE TO MISS KATE BROWN.
THIS IS KAYLA CATES BROWN WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.
THE BOARD WILL BE TAKING A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AT THIS TIME.
MEMBERS, PLEASE STAY IN THE PLATFORM.
THIS IS CALEB BROWN WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.
WE ARE RECONVENING THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION INTERPRETERS MEETING AT THIS TIME.
CHAIRMAN VASQUEZ, YOU MAY PROCEED.
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
[7. Discuss criteria and methodology when determining BEI certified interpreter disciplinary action]
WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS DISCUSS, RATHER THE CRITERION METHODOLOGY WHEN DETERMINING DISCIPLINARY ACTION INVOLVING A BY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.UH, SOME DISCUSSIONS ON THIS, BUT WHAT WOULD BE SOME, SOME ITEMS, POINTS THAT WOULD HELP US MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND THEN THE KIND OF ACTION THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.
UM. TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS OR ANY AND ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
[00:55:03]
I THINK THIS ACTUALLY TIES IN VERY WELL WITH THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WERE JUST STARTING ON LOOKING AT THE AGENCIES, THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE.SO HOW SERIOUS IS IT? THAT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO IT'S VERY HARD TO PUT SOMETHING CONCRETE INTO PLACE.
BUT I THINK IT'S REASONABLE FOR US TO LOOK AT THE SEVERITY AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VIOLATION.
WAS HARM CAUSED TO THEM? WERE THEY GETTING ESPECIALLY IF IT'S PUBLIC FUNDS? MARTIN, I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT THAT IF IT'S PUBLIC FUNDS THAT ARE BEING USED TO PAY FOR THE INTERPRETER AND THE INTERACTION.
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AND STATE GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S COME UP WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY.
RECIDIVISM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
WE SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING BROUGHT UP ON COMPLAINTS MULTIPLE TIMES, WHICH INDICATES THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF LEARNING IN THAT PROCESS. SO I THINK THAT THAT.
IT LOOKS AT IN A COURT SETTING, WE WOULD LOOK AT THINGS CALLED AGGRAVATION OF THE CHARGES.
WE WOULDN'T CALL IT THAT, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT THE IDEA OF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN GUIDANCE.
SO WHAT TYPES OF EFFORTS, WHAT TYPES OF THINGS? I KNOW IN THE PAST THE BOARD HAS RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL HOURS OF TRAINING.
WE HAVE AT TIMES HAD SUSPENSION OF THE ABILITY TO WORK AS A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.
THAT'S ONE OF THE I CAN REMEMBER ONE DISCUSSION PREVIOUSLY SAYING, WELL, IF WE REMOVE THEIR CERTIFICATION FROM THEM, THEN WE HAVE NO HOLD OVER THEM AT ANY POINT AFTER THAT. SO I REALLY DO AGREE THAT.
I'M NOT HAVING THIS. I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, CHRISTINE.
I CAN'T GET MY WORDS TO COME OUT.
YOU'RE NO LONGER A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM.
BUT I WANT TO ALSO JUST MAYBE ADD A WORD OF CAUTION.
SO THAT'S REALLY ALL THE COMMENT I HAD.
EXCUSE ME. SOME VERY GOOD POINTS.
AND YOU WERE MENTIONING ABOUT LACK OF LEARNING.
BUT AT OTHER TIMES, I'M WONDERING WHETHER IT'S JUST A FAILURE TO REMEDIATE, A FAILURE TO CORRECT.
AND SO, YES, WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING SO RESTRICTIVE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE FLEXIBLE.
SOME MISTAKES CAN BE MADE, AND IT'S DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
IT COULD CERTAINLY BE DUE TO A LACK OF EXPERIENCE ON THE PART OF THE INTERPRETER.
BUT WHEN WE SEE THAT REPETITIVE NATURE OF SOME TO VIOLATE, YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALSO WHO ELSE IS BEING HARMED IN THIS PROCESS.
FOR THE DEAF INDIVIDUAL WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING SERVICES, WHO'S NOT GETTING THE ADEQUATE SERVICES, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S IN A K THROUGH 12 SETTING WHERE IT'S CHILDREN'S EDUCATION THAT IS BEING HUGELY IMPACTED BY THIS.
THE OTHER THING I WAS THINKING OF WAS, OH, AND I JUST LOST MY POINT.
CHRISTINA, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ON AT THIS TIME? HI, THIS IS CHRISTINA.
[01:00:09]
OR LICENSURES TO LOOK TO SEE THEIR GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND PERHAPS GAINING FROM THEM SOMETHING THAT WE COULD APPLY TO TO OUR OWN PROGRAMS. THAT IS CERTAINLY A VERY GOOD IDEA.THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO, BUT RATHER WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST.
BUT REALLY LOOKING AT THIS AS A.
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE LIKE CALLING OURSELVES CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS OR WE LIKE CALLING OURSELVES INTERPRETERS, BUT ARE WE FULLY COMPLYING WITH THAT, WITH WITH ALL THAT IT ENTAILS THE OBTAINING OF CEUS? AND I REALIZE THAT THOSE ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR INTERPRETERS THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED, BUT.
AND IT'S AND THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAN OF WORMS. BUT THERE'S THERE AREN'T OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EDUCATED AS TO ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO ETHICS AND THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? IT APPEARS THAT AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
[8. Public comment]
I'D LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MS..THIS IS KAYLA CATES BROWN WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.
I WILL NOW READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE A STAKEHOLDER HERE IN THE ROOM WHO WILL PROVIDE TESTIMONY.
THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MEMBERS.
IT ALSO DETERMINES WHAT IS ALLOWED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE ACT STATES THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN ADDRESS BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT CONCERNS.
MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO ASK THE PERSON COMMENTING TO CLARIFY SOMETHING ALREADY SAID.
MEMBERS AND STAFF CANNOT DISCUSS THE COMMENT TOPIC.
UNLESS IT IS ALREADY ON THE CURRENT AGENDA.
IF THE COMMENT TOPIC IS ON THE AGENDA, CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN FOR WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMENTS ARE WITHIN THE CHARGE OF THE BOARD AND WHETHER TIME ALLOWS FOR DISCUSSION TO TAKE PLACE.
IF THE COMMENT TOPIC IS WITHIN THE BOARD'S CHARGE, BUT THE TOPIC IS NOT ON THE CURRENT AGENDA.
MEMBERS OR STAFF CAN REQUEST THAT THE TOPIC BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR A FUTURE MEETING IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ALL BUSINESS IS ABLE TO BE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE TIME FRAMES ALLOWED AND THAT EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY.
THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT PER PERSON.
ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS WILL KEEP TIME AND AT THE TWO MINUTE MARK YOU WILL SEE A SIGN INDICATING YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING.
YOU WILL SEE A STOP SIGN WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
YOU WILL BE ASKED TO CONCLUDE YOUR PRESENTATION AT THAT TIME.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE PRE-REGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE SHARED.
AS A REMINDER, COMMENTERS MUST COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING ACCESS, USE OR DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION OR OTHER SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION.
[01:05:10]
DRUGS, ALCOHOL ABUSE AND TREATMENT, AND TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.CHAPTER 611 .006, WHICH RESTRICTS DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON RECORDS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED BY THREE SEPARATE ENTITIES, AND ALL OF THAT MATERIAL HAS BEEN SHARED WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM MISS JAMIE JONES.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO CALL ON OUR VIRTUAL.
UM, TESTIMONY PROVIDER, MISS RANDY TURNER.
MISS TURNER, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE.
I WORKED FOR A LEGACY AGENCY COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING LATER KNOWN AS DAR'S OFFICE FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING NOW THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES. I WAS THERE 19 YEARS AND LEFT IN 2016 AND WENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WORKED THERE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2022, WHERE I HEARD OFTEN FROM PARENTS WHO FOSTERED DEAF CHILDREN TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES ABOUT THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH UNQUALIFIED SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS. I AGREE WITH ELENA AND THE COMMENT THAT NOT ALL AGENCIES FUNCTION WITH MALCONTENT, BUT OFTEN INTERPRETERS ARE QUALIFIED.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES THAT THEY ARE NOT.
AND YES, THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS THE LIFE OF A CHILD THAT'S SIX YEARS OLD THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO TRAUMA OR ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND IS ABOUT TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME OR A PATIENT IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM EXPERIENCING CHEST PAINS.
BUT THOSE SITUATIONS, THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR EVEN CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS.
THOSE SITUATIONS WE CAN USE, INTERPRETER AGENCIES CAN SEND NON CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS AND UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS SINCE HHS, DHHS AND IN THE FUTURE I'M GOING TO ACRONYM THAT TO ONE OF THOSE DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO PENALIZE NON CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS AT THIS TIME.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HHS OBTAIN THAT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY UNTIL THEN, TO STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION MIGHT BE FOR HHS OR DHHS TO REQUIRE THEIR STATE AGENCY CONTRACTORS FOR INTERPRETER SERVICES TO SEND OR USE ONLY CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS FOR ANY STATE AGENCY ASSIGNMENT AND BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT JUST RECOMMEND IT.
UM, DHHS SHOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDING NON CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS FOR ANY ASSIGNMENTS SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE INTERPRETERS ABILITIES WITHOUT PASSING A TEST OF COMPETENCY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BI, WHY THE DEAF COMMUNITY CAME 3040 YEARS AGO TO ASK FOR THAT CERTIFICATION TO BE ESTABLISHED. HHS DOES HAVE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF INTERPRETERS, SO TO ENSURE INTERPRETERS ARE QUALIFIED, ESPECIALLY FOR MORE COMPLICATED ASSIGNMENTS LIKE DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND FAMILY SERVICES, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERPRETERS IN THOSE SETTINGS LIKE FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR CPS, WOULD EFFECTIVELY POSSIBLY MITIGATE SOME OF THIS UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETER SETTINGS OR SITUATIONS WHERE AGENCIES ARE SENDING INDIVIDUALS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THAT SETTING.
YOU CAN CHECK WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM WHO ARE INTERPRETERS THAT THAT FOSTER CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF, THAT RUN INTO UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS BEING USED AT CPS ASSIGNMENTS FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
IT INCLUDES DEAF PARENTS AS WELL.
I'VE HAD CALLS FROM DEAF PARENTS THAT ALSO DID NOT GET QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS AND DHHS CONTRACTS THROUGH INTER AGENCY, THE INTER AGENCY CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THESE SO THEY COULD SET HIGHER STANDARDS FOR THOSE SETTINGS.
[01:10:05]
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION NECESSARILY, BUT I VERY DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT UP.I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE SEEN SIMILAR ISSUES, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'D LIKE I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD, MS..
TURNER, THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ECHO WHAT WE'RE HEARING AT VARYING LEVELS OF OF OUR PROFESSION.
AND TO GET IT FROM THE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN STATE WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT, WHO'S HEARING IT FROM CONSUMERS, THEIR PARENTS AND OTHERS, IS ALSO GOOD TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE THINKING, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING PERVASIVELY.
YOU'RE WELCOME. MRS. KAYLA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
MS.. TURNER THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS AND FOR THE INFORMATION, AS I THINK IT WILL BE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS NUMBERS WILL BE HELPFUL IN US FOR US MOVING FORWARD TO REALLY GARNER SOME TO SOME ENERGY BEHIND THAT TO TO APPLY.
CALEB BROWN AGAIN WITH ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED WITH OUR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY.
WE HAVE MR. MATTHEW DICKENS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HERE TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY.
HELLO. THIS IS THE INTERPRETER.
DO YOU MIND ACTUALLY TURNING OFF THE BACKGROUND ON THAT SCREEN, PLEASE? OKAY, BUT THE BACKGROUND IS STILL THERE.
[01:15:16]
IS THE INTERPRETER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.MY NAME IS MATT DICKENS WITH THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO INTERPRETERS WHO ARE UNQUALIFIED TO DO THEIR JOB.
WE DO. I DO AGREE WITH RANDY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMMENTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND MORE.
INTERAGENCY CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR SERVICES FOR THE STATE AND STATE AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF DHS AND THEIR WHO REQUIRES WHO REQUIRES THE NEGOTIATION IN ORDER TO SAVE AND FUNDING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE ON THE JOB.
HOWEVER, UNCERTIFIED OR UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS ARE BEING USED FOR ASSIGNMENTS ACROSS THESE AGENCIES, WHICH MEANS THAT COMMUNICATION MISTAKES ARE ARISING. WHILE HHC PROVIDES A LIST OF RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS.
THE AGENCIES WHO CONTRACT WITH DHS ARE ALLOWED TO USE UNQUALIFIED AND UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS.
WE HAVE 1212 MEMBERS WHO HAVE VOTED TO UPDATE THEIR CONTRACT FOR OUR COUNCIL TO PROVIDE INTERPRETERS FOR STATE AGENCIES.
AND WE THIS AND IF THE CERTIFIED IF THE INTERPRETER IS CERTIFIED, THEN WE WILL CANCEL THE CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS A RECURRENCE ISSUE, A RECURRING ISSUE.
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS RECOMMENDATION WITH YOU AS A BOARD.
ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS ELENA. I'M ASKING, DO YOU PREFER THAT I SIGN? CAN YOU SEE ME? OKAY.
I JUST HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
HOW YOU HAVE TAKEN TIME TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES MY TESTIMONY.
CHAIRMAN VASQUEZ, THIS IS KAYLA AGAIN WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.
AND THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS WHO PROVIDED COMMENT TODAY.
WE CAN NOW PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE.
THANK YOU FOR THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MOVING ON TO AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER NINE.
SORRY. WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WHAT ITEMS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN FUTURE MEETINGS.
FOR OUR NEXT OUR UPCOMING MEETING.
CHRISTINA, DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT OR THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS OUR NEXT SESSION? ANDOLINA AS WELL.
[01:20:04]
HI, THIS IS CHRISTINA.I WOULD LOVE FOR OUR ADVISORY BOARD TO CONTINUE WITH THE TOPICS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TODAY AS FAR AS, UM, LET'S SEE, YOU KNOW, COME.
HOLDING INTERPRETING AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR.
ALSO ACCOUNTABLE FOR SENDING UNQUALIFIED OR UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS TO JOBS THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES.
AND ALSO WHAT OUR TWO PUBLIC COMMENTERS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE STATE AGENCIES AS WELL, THOSE ARE BOTH THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING AT FUTURE MEETINGS.
THANK YOU. I THINK YOU I THINK WE HAVE A COMMON THREAD AMONG THE THREE OF US.
ELENA, DID YOU HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT? YES, THANK YOU.
I AGREE. I WANT TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE STARTED TODAY.
HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON HOW.
THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT IS WORKING TO SEE IF THIS IS.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN A FEW MONTHS.
SO JUST BEING ABLE TO TELL IF WE'RE SEEING ANY TRACTION.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME THOUGH.
WE'D LIKE TO CALL BACK MR. DICKENS. HE'D LIKE TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION TO HIS TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE GSPD IS NOT SET.
WE HAVE NOT SET THIS INITIATIVE YET.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING IT IN ORDER TO FOLLOW UP ON QUALIFICATIONS.
THANK YOU. MR. DICKENS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION NOW THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT.
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION? THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE STATE AGENCIES TO USE CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS APPROPRIATELY AS APPROPRIATE ON ASSIGNMENTS.
IF THE STATE AGENCIES WILL FOLLOW THE CONTRACT AGREEMENTS, THAT MEANS THAT WE SHOULD SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN COMMUNICATION ACCESS SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE STATE AGENCIES AS WELL AS IN THE STATE. AGENCIES WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS WELL AND PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL.
THANK YOU. SO THIS WOULD BE ENSURING TO SOME DEGREE, TO A GREATER DEGREE THAT TEXAS CITIZENS OR PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE STATE WHO GO FOR SERVICES WITHIN A STATE AGENCY WOULD WOULD BE GUARANTEED A BETTER QUALITY OF INTERPRETER.
AND SO THAT RECOGNIZING THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT THEM AND ALSO COMPLY WITH THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATION. MY WORDING IS A LITTLE OFF.
I'M SORRY. DO YOU NEED ME TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT AGAIN? SORRY. WHAT? WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THAT WAS A QUESTION OR A STATE OR A COMMENT, SO YES, YOU COULD REPEAT THAT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IT WAS MORE OF A RHETORICAL QUESTION.
SORRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
[01:25:02]
WE APPRECIATE IT. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.I AM WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON TWO POINTS.
ONE WAS THE OBJECTIVE FOR THE INTER AGENCY CONTRACT.
IS THAT THE INDIRECT? SECOND QUESTION DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE TIMELINE WHEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT PROPOSAL AND WHEN EVERYTHING WILL COME TO FRUITION? WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS PROPOSAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS INTO A STATE AGENCY POLICY SOON AFTER THE PROPOSAL.
THIS IS ELENA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTER AND HOW JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. HOW MIGHT THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPACT NON CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS WORKING WITH THE STATE AGENCIES? WELL, WE ENVISION THAT IT'S JUST A FIRST STEP.
AT A LEVEL WHERE WE NEED TO REQUIRE CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS FOR STATE AGENCIES.
BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED IN SOME KIND OF AN AMENDMENT FOR THESE CONTRACTS.
CONTINUING WITH THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE MEETINGS, WE'D LIKE TO GET MAYBE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CDI TEST FROM BI.
THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WE WOULD ASK FOR A STATUS UPDATE.
AND. I THINK THOSE ARE WE HAVE ABOUT 3 OR 4 THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY. MOVING ON TO.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? CHRISTINA? ELENA.
ALSO FOR THE NEXT MEETING, POTENTIAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY.
[9. Future meetings and planning]
WE'RE LOOKING AT JANUARY, MAY AND SEPTEMBER.UM. SO WE'D LIKE TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULING SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS MOVING.
ALSO, IS FRIDAY THE BEST DATE FOR ALL OF US? TRADITIONALLY, IT'S BEEN ON FRIDAYS, BUT I THINK IT COULD BE OTHER DATES, BUT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A DATE FOR THAT.
SO STARTING IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
ANYTHING. ELSE RELATED TO THAT? OKAY. OKAY.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE NEXT DATE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 22ND, 20 2023 AT 10 A.M..
AND THEN WE ARE STILL OPEN FOR JANUARY AND MAY OF NEXT YEAR, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE SCHEDULED QUICKLY BECAUSE THE TIMELINE IS IS IS A FACTOR.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS WITH THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE KEEP TO FRIDAYS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
[01:30:03]
I FEEL BAD EVEN HAVING THESE TYPES OF.DECISION MAKING WITHOUT THE REST OF OUR BOARD PRESENT.
BUT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WOULD RECOMMEND KEEPING IT ON FRIDAYS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK DONE AT THAT POINT, OR AT LEAST KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SWAMPED OVER THE WEEKEND AND BE ABLE TO KEEP FRIDAYS OPEN IF POSSIBLE AGAIN.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE INPUT OF OUR OF OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME, BUT I'M GETTING FEEDBACK THAT JANUARY AND MAY OF 2024 ARE STILL OPEN.
SO WHATEVER DATES WORK OUT FOR THIS ROOM IS VERY NICE.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS WHEN IT WORKS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
AND SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE THESE ROOMS AND IF WE I'M OPEN AS FAR AS DATES.
JAMIE SAID SHE'LL SEND OUT SURVEYS, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER ON OUR AGENDA.
1136, AND THIS MEETING HAS NOW COME TO AN END.
MR. CHACON, PLEASE END THE RECORDING AND TRANSCRIPTION FUNCTIONS.
MEMBERS AND PRESENTERS, PLEASE LEAVE THE PLATFORM.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TODAY.
RECORDING AND TRANSCRIPTION HAS ENDED.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.