As used in this article:
(a) "Deaf person" means one whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life;
(b) "Qualified interpreter" means an interpreter certified by the national association of the deaf (NAD) or registry of interpreters for the deaf (RID), or, in the event an interpreter so certified is not available, an interpreter whose qualifications are otherwise determined;
(c) "Oral interpreter" means a person who interprets language through facial and lip movements; and
(d) "Appointing authority" means any court, department, board, commission, agency, licensing authority, political subdivision or municipality of the state required to provide an interpreter.