Raises the minimum fee for temporary interpreters; requires that town and village courts share in the compensation of such temporary interpreters.
Summary
S00916 amends the Judiciary Law to increase the minimum compensation for temporary court interpreters from $25 per day to at least $110 per day. It also changes the payment structure so that when a temporary interpreter’s compensation exceeds $110 per day, the amount above that floor must be paid by the town or village where the court is located, rather than being borne entirely by the county court fund. The bill applies to temporary interpreters appointed when no unemployed official interpreter is available and requires the interpreter to take the constitutional oath before serving.
The bill also updates the rules governing interpretation for deaf or hard of hearing people in legal proceedings. It preserves the requirement that courts appoint qualified certified interpreters whenever a deaf or hard of hearing person is a party, witness, juror, or prospective juror, while allowing a temporarily appointed otherwise qualified interpreter if a certified interpreter is not immediately available and delay would be unreasonable. In criminal cases in state-funded courts, it continues to require interpretation for deaf or hard of hearing victims and, when requested, certain immediate family members of victims. The act takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill amends sections 387 and 390 of the Judiciary Law, directly affecting how courts compensate temporary interpreters and how those costs are allocated among county court funds, towns, and villages. It raises the statutory minimum daily fee for temporary interpreters and shifts some financial responsibility to local governments for town and village courts when compensation exceeds the new minimum. It also reinforces the statutory framework for providing sign-language and other qualified interpretation services in court proceedings involving deaf or hard of hearing participants.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously, then cleared the Senate floor by a wide margin and later passed the Assembly with a substantial majority. The voting history suggests general agreement that interpreter compensation should be updated and that access to court interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing people should remain protected.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal responsibility: the bill increases interpreter pay and requires town and village courts to contribute to compensation above the new minimum, which may raise concerns for local governments about added costs. Another possible point of discussion is the balance between ensuring certified interpreters are used and allowing temporary non-certified interpreters when delay would be unreasonable, though the bill preserves that existing exception rather than expanding it. No recorded committee transcript indicates active opposition, but the Assembly vote shows some dissent, suggesting at least some lawmakers may have had reservations about cost or implementation.
Same As
Raises the minimum fee for temporary interpreters; requires that town and village courts share in the compensation of such temporary interpreters.
Requires health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare coverage for sign language interpreter services for covered individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Requires health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare coverage for sign language interpreter services for covered individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 71, Chapter 4, Part 21, relative to sign language interpreters.