Bill Text: IL HB3620 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Foreign Language Court Interpreter Act. Provides that whenever any person is party or witness in a civil action in this State, the court shall, upon its own motion or that of a party, determine whether the person is capable of understanding the English language and is capable of expressing himself or herself in the English language so as to be understood directly by counsel, court, or jury. Provides that if the court finds the person incapable of so understanding or so expressing himself or herself, the court shall appoint an interpreter for the person whom he or she can understand and who can understand him or her. Provides that the interpreter shall be sworn to truly interpret or translate all questions propounded or answers given as directed by the court. Provides that the court shall determine a reasonable fee for all interpreter services, which shall be paid out of the general county funds. Provides that "interpreter" includes a sign language interpreter.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)

Status: (Passed) 2015-07-24 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0133 [HB3620 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB3620-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 099-0133
HB3620 Enrolled LRB099 09653 HEP 29862 b
AN ACT concerning courts.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by adding
Section 8-1403 as follows:
(735 ILCS 5/8-1403 new)
Sec. 8-1403. Interpreters for civil cases.
(a) Whenever any person is a party or witness in a civil
action in this State, the court shall, upon its own motion or
that of a party, determine whether the person is capable of
understanding the English language and is capable of expressing
himself or herself in the English language so as to be
understood directly by counsel, court, or jury. If the court
finds the person incapable of so understanding or so expressing
himself or herself, the court shall appoint an interpreter for
the person whom he or she can understand and who can understand
him or her. All appointments for court interpreters in civil
matters shall be pursuant to the Illinois Supreme Court
Language Access Policy and the judicial circuit's Language
Access Plan that is appropriate for the demands and resources
specific to the Illinois courts within that particular circuit.
(b) The court shall enter an order of its appointment of
the interpreter who shall be sworn to truly interpret or

translate all questions propounded or answers given as directed
by the court.
(c) As used in this Section, "interpreter" includes a sign
language interpreter.