Bill Text: CA AB2727 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Courts: interpreters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - Died at Desk. [AB2727 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2727-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2727	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chu

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 751 of the Evidence Code, relating to
courts.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2727, as introduced, Chu. Courts: interpreters.
   Under existing law, if a witness in a court action is incapable of
understanding the English language or is incapable of expressing
himself or herself in the English language so as to be understood
directly by counsel, court, and jury, an interpreter whom the witness
can understand and who can understand the witness must be sworn to
interpret for the witness. Existing law requires an interpreter to
take an oath that he or she will make a true interpretation to the
witness in a language that the witness understands and that the
interpreter will make a true interpretation of the witness' answers
to questions to counsel, court, or jury, in the English language,
with the interpreter's best skill and judgment.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the
latter provision.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 751 of the Evidence Code is amended to read:
   751.  (a) An interpreter shall take an oath that he or she will
make a true interpretation to the witness in a language that the
witness understands and that he or she will make a true
interpretation of the witness' answers to questions to counsel,
court, or jury, in the English language, with his or her best skill
and judgment.
   (b) In  any   a  proceeding in which a
deaf or  hard-of-hearing   hard of hearing 
person is testifying under oath, the interpreter certified pursuant
to subdivision (f) of Section 754 shall advise the court whenever he
or she is unable to comply with his or her oath taken pursuant to
subdivision (a).
   (c) A translator shall take an oath that he or she will make a
true translation in the English language of any writing he or she is
to decipher or translate.
   (d) An interpreter regularly employed by the court and certified
or registered in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section
68560) of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Government Code, or a
translator regularly employed by the court, may file an oath as
prescribed by this section with the clerk of the court. The filed
oath shall serve for all subsequent court proceedings until the
appointment is revoked by the court.