HB 1753-S.E - DIGEST
(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/11/13)

Authorizes the department of social and health services and the state health care authority to purchase interpreter services on behalf of limited-English speaking applicants and recipients of public assistance.

Authorizes the department of labor and industries to purchase interpreter services for medical and vocational providers authorized to provide services to limited-English speaking injured workers or crime victims.

Requires, no later than September 1, 2015, the department of social and health services, the state health care authority, and the department of labor and industries to each purchase spoken language interpreter services directly from language access providers through no more than three contracts with scheduling and coordinating organizations.

Requires the department of social and health services to establish the spoken language interpreter advisory group to advise the departments of social and health services, labor and industries, and enterprise services and the state health care authority on policies, rules, and regulations governing the certification and authorization of spoken language interpreters.

Requires, by September 1, 2015, the department of enterprise services to purchase, for all other state agencies, spoken language interpreter services directly from language access providers through no more than three contracts with scheduling and coordinating delivery organizations.