FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6571

                              C 183 L 90

BYSenators Newhouse and Rinehart

Revising provisions for interpreters in legal proceedings.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

House Committe on Judiciary

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The presiding officer must appoint a certified or qualified interpreter to assist a non-English-speaking person in a legal proceeding.  Beginning on July 1, 1990, when a non-English-speaking person is compelled to appear in a legal proceeding, the presiding officer shall only use the services of an interpreter who has been certified by the Office of the Administrator for the Courts unless good cause is found.

The language proposed for this legislation was inadvertently omitted from the 1989 legislation regarding court interpreters (SSB 5474/89, codified as RCW 2.42.220).

SUMMARY:

The presiding officer is required to appoint a qualified interpreter when a non-English-speaking person is involved in a legal proceeding.

Statutes governing interpreters for non-English-speaking persons are recodified.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   44    0

     House 95  0 (House amended)

     Senate   39    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990