FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5474

PARTIAL VETO

                              C 358 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse, Vognild and Talmadge; by request of Administrator for the Courts)

Requiring testing and certification of English language interpreters in court.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

House Committe on Judiciary

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, only interpreters for the hearing- impaired are certified.  The law requires courts to provide interpreters for non-English speaking persons, but sets no standards for the interpreters.

SUMMARY:

Certified interpreters shall be used when a non-English speaking person is a party to a legal proceeding, is subpoenaed or summoned by an appointing authority, or is otherwise compelled by an appointing authority to appear at a legal proceeding.  A qualified interpreter shall be used in all other situations.

The non-English speaking person may waive the right to a certified interpreter.  The presiding authority may appoint an uncertified interpreter, upon finding good cause.  Good cause for using an uncertified interpreter includes the unavailability of a certified interpreter.

The Office of the Administrator for the Courts (OAC) shall work with community colleges and other private or public educational institutions and organizations to establish a certification curriculum and training program.  The programs shall be available in eastern and western Washington.

OAC shall create and consult with an advisory committee.  The committee shall consider:  (a) the certification standards and procedures; (b) the priority of languages in need of certification; and (c) whether an agency other than OAC ought to perform the certification duties.

The duties of language interpreters are specified.  Additionally, technical changes are made deleting references to "language interpreters" from the statute governing hearing- impaired interpreters.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   44    0

     House 96  0(House amended)

     Senate   47    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed section 9 of the bill which required OAC to create an advisory committee.  The veto was based upon the structure of the committee, which did not include representatives of cities or towns, or OAC as advisory members.  (See VETO MESSAGE)