New DARS Regulations

NEW REGULATIONS FOR DARS –DRS – ATTENTION CRP AND JOB COACHES

Effective with the December 16th publication of new Standards and Policies, DARS-DRS implemented a new Deaf Service Premium (DSP).  In order to receive this DSP, the Employment Service Provider is required to hold either a Board of Evaluation for Interpreters for the Deaf (BEI) certification, a National Registry for the Deaf (RID) certification or a Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) rating of intermediate plus.
Recognizing that not all current staff may hold one of these certifications, DARS will use a transition period to implement this requirement.  This transition period will be effective through 08/31/2015 but is only applicable to providers and staff who are currently contracted to specifically serve deaf DARS consumers.

If you have provided services to DARS consumers who are deaf in the past or are currently serving them and you do not hold one of the above mentioned certifications (BEI, RID or SLPI), the attached DARS3490 “Temporary Waiver of CRP Credentials” should be completed for each staff person who provides these services.  The completed DARS3490 will be effective from the date of signature until 9/1/2015 or until the staff person obtains their BEI, RID or SLPI.  Each staff person needs to complete the DARS3490 once for the entire period and it will be valid for any and all DARS consumers that staff person serves from the date of signature through8/31/2015.  Please note that the core credential requirements (Job Coach, Job Skills Training, Job Placement, Supported Employment and Director) remain in place and the waiver of the DSP does not negate the credential requirements applicable to these services.  New staff hired after 12/16/14 are required to hold either a BEI, RID or SLPI certification in order to receive the DSP.

Information on obtaining BEI certification can be found at https://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/bei.shtml

Information on obtaining RID certification can be found at https://www.rid.org/education/overview/index.cfm

Information on obtaining SLPI certification can be found at https://www.ncaslta.org/asl-tool-kit/slpi-sign-language-proficiency-interview.html

Effective 09/01/2015, all Employment Service Providers who serve DARS consumers who are deaf must have one of the above certifications in order to continue receiving the DSP; if they do not have one of the above certifications, they will receive payment for services at the typical (non DSP) rate.