Court interpreters.

Existing law provides for the regulation of court interpreters, and requires the Judicial Council to designate the languages for which certification programs shall be established. Existing law provides that any person who interprets in a court proceeding using a language designated by the Judicial Council is required to be a certified court interpreter for the language used. Existing law authorizes the court, for good cause, to appoint an interpreter who does not hold an interpreter certificate for a designated language. Existing law authorizes a person who interprets in a court proceeding using a language not designated by the Judicial Council to be qualified by the court under qualification procedures and guidelines adopted by the Judicial Council, and to be designated as a registered interpreter if he or she passes an approved English fluency examination. Existing law requires interpreters to establish to the court that they meet the requirements described above under procedures adopted by the Judicial Council and also requires the court record to show that the interpreter is a certified interpreter or qualified as an interpreter for good cause or for a nondesignated language, as specified. This bill would additionally require a judge, in any proceeding in which the court appoints an interpreter who does not hold an interpreter certificate for a designated language, or who is qualified to interpret using a nondesignated language but is not registered, to have stated on the record a finding that a certified or registered interpreter is not available, the name of the interpreter, and a statement that he or she meets the qualification requirements specified above, and that the interpreter's oath was administered to the interpreter, as specified. The bill would also require a judge in any court proceeding, when using a certified or registered court interpreter, to have stated on the record the name of the interpreter, his or her current interpreter certification or registration number, the language to be interpreted, a statement that the certified or registered interpreter's identification has been verified by the court, and a statement that the interpreter's oath was administered to him or her, or that he or she has an oath on file with the court, as specified. The bill would require certified or registered interpreters to state similar information for the record in depositions where a judge is not present, as specified.