Section 68562 Of Article 4. Court Interpreter Services From California Government Code >> Title 8. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.
68562
. (a) The Judicial Council shall designate the languages for
which certification programs shall be established under subdivision
(b). The language designations shall be based on (1) the courts'
needs as determined by the language and interpreter use and need
studies under Section 68563, (2) the language needs of
non-English-speaking persons in the courts, and (3) other information
the Judicial Council deems relevant.
(b) By July 1, 1996, the Judicial Council shall approve one or
more entities to certify Spanish language interpreters and
interpreters for as many other languages designated under subdivision
(a) as practicable by that date. The Judicial Council may give
provisional approval to an entity to examine interpreters and
establish a list of recommended court interpreters pending final
approval of one or more certification entities. Certification
entities may include educational institutions, testing organizations,
joint powers agencies, or public agencies.
The Judicial Council shall adopt and publish guidelines,
standards, and procedures to determine which certification entities
will be approved to test and certify interpreters.
(c) The Judicial Council shall develop and implement procedures to
administer the list of recommended court interpreters previously
established by the State Personnel Board and the list established by
an entity provisionally approved under subdivision (b).
The Judicial Council shall develop procedures and standards for
certifying without reexamination interpreters on the list of
recommended court interpreters (1) previously established by the
State Personnel Board, or (2) established by an entity provisionally
approved under subdivision (b). Certification of these interpreters
shall be based on criteria determined by the Judicial Council, such
as recent interpreting experience, performance in court or at
administrative hearings, training, and continuing education.
(d) The Judicial Council shall adopt standards and requirements
for interpreter proficiency, continuing education, certification
renewal, and discipline. The Judicial Council shall adopt standards
of professional conduct for court interpreters.
(e) The Judicial Council shall adopt programs for interpreter
recruiting, training, and continuing education and evaluation to
ensure that an adequate number of interpreters is available and that
they interpret competently.
(f) The Judicial Council shall establish guidelines for fees or
shall set and charge fees for applications to take the court
interpreter examinations, for renewal of certifications, for
certification of interpreters on the list of recommended court
interpreters, for maintaining interpreters on the recommended list
until January 1, 1996, and for other functions and services provided
under this article. All fees and other revenues received by the
Judicial Council under this article shall be transferred promptly to
the Controller, and shall be placed in the Court Interpreters' Fund,
which is hereby created, the moneys in which shall be available to
carry out the purposes of this article upon appropriation by the
Legislature.
(g) Each superior court may adopt local rules to impose additional
requirements, standards, examinations, and programs as necessary for
equity or to recognize local conditions.