Bill Text: CA AB1657 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Courts: interpreters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 721, Statutes of 2014. [AB1657 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB1657-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1657	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gomez

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2014

   An act to add Section 68092.1 to the Government Code, relating to
courts.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1657, as introduced, Gomez. Courts: interpreters.
   The California Constitution provides that a person unable to
understand English who is charged with a crime has the right to an
interpreter throughout the proceedings. Existing statutory law
requires, in any civil or criminal action, as specified, a sign
language interpreter to be appointed for a party or witness who is
deaf or hearing-impaired and generally requires the payment of these
court interpreters' fees to be a charge against the court.
   Existing law also requires, in any specified action or proceeding
relating to domestic violence, an interpreter to be provided by the
court for a party who does not proficiently speak or understand the
English language to interpret the proceedings in a language that the
party understands and to assist communication between the party and
his or her attorney. Existing law generally requires court
interpreters' fees to be paid by the litigants in civil cases, as
directed by the court, but further requires the fees of an
interpreter to be waived for a party who needs an interpreter and
appears in forma pauperis.
   This bill would authorize the court to provide a court interpreter
in any civil action or proceeding at no cost to the parties,
regardless of the income of the parties.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 68092.1 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   68092.1.  Notwithstanding Section 26806 or 68092, or any other
law, a court may provide an interpreter in any civil action or
proceeding at no cost to the parties, regardless of the income of the
parties.