The APELSCIDLA  Board and regulations exists to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.  Does elimination of §18VAC10-20-55 increase or decrease public health, safety, and welfare?

Repelling §18VAC10-20-55 increases the potential for more licensed professionals, but I am unsure that it increases the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

I can appreciate the desire to be open to more professionals seeking to be licensed in Virginia.   However, the lack of a uniform language may result in unintended consequences.  Please consider your answers to the following before eliminating §18VAC10-20-55.

Will the board regulations and law be translated into understandable and comprehendible language for each person holding a Virginia License?

Will translators be present for board meetings and fact-finding conferences?

Will meeting minutes be translated into the understandable and comprehendible language of each person granted a Virginia License?

Will disciplinary cases be translated into the understandable and comprehendible language of each person granted a Virginia License?

Will translators be provided to regulants and investigators when investigating or refuting a disciplinary case?

Will a lack of understanding or comprehension of the language in which the APELSCIDLA  Board Regulations are provided be allowed as a defense against negligence or meeting the standard of care?

Will a lack of understanding or comprehension of language in which the state and/or locality’s building codes are provided be allowed as a defense against negligence or meeting the standard of care?

Ultimately, if §18VAC10-20-55 is repelled, will the APELSCIDLA  Board consider language (a lack of understanding or comprehension) as a reason NOT to discipline a regulant for failing to meet the requirements set forth in the APELSCIDLA  Board Regulations? 

If you answer "yes" to this last question, then please reconsider keeping or rewording this section to best ensure the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.