Report Title:

Certified Court Interpreters; Defined

Description:

Defines certified court interpreters and requires them to be present at proceedings.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2856

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 606, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§606- Certified interpreters; assignment. (a) Certified court interpreters shall be sworn officers of the court. State or county agencies that call court interpreters for assignments at all times shall first contact the certified or professionally qualified court interpreters for each and every event for which an interpreter is needed. This shall include, but not be limited to, all in-court hearings, out-of-court proceedings, attorney-client proceedings interviews, and other out-of-court events, unless the interpreter is unavailable for the duration of the case and so informs the presiding judge of that circuit court.

(b) The supreme court shall create and implement a program for the certification of court interpreters and the recognition of those interpreters already holding court interpreter certification, court interpreter license, or professionally qualified status from other jurisdictions."

SECTION 2. Section 606-13.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Certified court interpreter" means a court interpreter who is either certified under 28 United States Code sections 1827 and 1828, as amended, or certified or licensed by a state that is a member state of the National Center for State Courts Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification, and who has not had the certification withdrawn as the result of a disciplinary procedure by the judicial system for malpractice or unethical behavior.

"Professionally qualified court interpreter" means a court interpreter who has been granted professionally qualified status by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts pursuant to the Interim Regulations of the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts Implementing the Court Interpreters Amendments Act of 1988, effective November 1989, part III, section 8, or who meets the criteria, stated in the interim regulations, as determined by the supreme court."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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