Bill Text: CA AB810 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Courts: translators.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-08-25 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB810 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB810-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 810	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 27, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wagner

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to repeal Section 26806 of, and to repeal and add Section
69894.5 of, the Government Code, relating to courts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 810, as amended, Wagner. Courts: translators.
   Existing law authorizes the clerk of the court, in a county with a
population of 900,000 or more, to employ as many foreign language
interpreters as are necessary to interpret in criminal and juvenile
cases, and to translate documents intended for filing in any civil or
criminal action or proceeding or for recordation in the county
recorder's office, as specified. Existing law authorizes an
interpreter so employed to collect from the litigants a specified fee
for his or her services, and to deposit the fee into the county
treasury.
   This bill would recast these provisions to authorize the clerk of
the court to employ as many foreign language interpreters as may be
necessary to interpret cases in the superior court, and to translate
documents as specified. The bill would require the clerk of the court
to assign interpreters when needed to interpret in criminal and
juvenile delinquency cases in the superior court, and in civil cases
if an assignment can be made without causing the court to be unable
to perform its obligations in criminal proceedings. The bill would
delete the authorization for the collection of a fee  , and
would state that these provisions are declarative of existing law
 .
   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  Section 26806 of the Government Code is repealed.
  SEC. 2.  Section 69894.5 of the Government Code is repealed.
  SEC. 3.  Section 69894.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   69894.5.  (a) A person unable to understand English who is charged
with a crime has a right to an interpreter throughout the
proceedings.
   (b) The clerk of the court may employ as many foreign language
interpreters as may be necessary to interpret cases in the superior
court, and to translate documents as may be required, pursuant to the
Trial Court Interpreter Employment and Labor Relations Act 
Chapter   (Chapter  7.5 (commencing with Section
 71800) of Title 8)   71800))  .
   (c) In addition to any other right to an interpreter, the clerk of
the court shall, when interpreters are needed, assign interpreters
to interpret in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases in the
superior court.
   (d) The clerk of the court may also assign interpreters to
interpret in civil cases in the superior court, if an assignment in a
civil case can be made without causing the court to be unable to
perform its obligations in criminal proceedings. 
   (e) This section is declarative of existing law.