1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring the commissioner of
1.3 	commerce to study provision of language interpreter
1.4 	services.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES STUDY.
 1.7 	The commissioner of commerce, in consultation with the
1.8 	commissioners of health, human services, and employee relations,
1.9 	and representatives of health plan companies, health care
1.10 	providers, and limited-English-speaking communities, shall study
1.11 	and make recommendations on providing language interpreter
1.12 	services to limited-English-speaking patients in order to
1.13 	facilitate the provision of health care services by health care
1.14 	providers and health care facilities.  The recommendations shall
1.15 	include:
1.16 	(1) ways to achieve the needed availability of professional
1.17 	interpreter services and an accreditation system for language
1.18 	interpreters, which includes appropriate standards for
1.19 	education, training, and credentialing; and 
1.20 	(2) criteria for determining financial responsibility for
1.21 	providing interpreter services to enrollees of health plans,
1.22 	including the responsible party for arranging interpreter
1.23 	services and for reimbursement for these services.
1.24 	The commissioner of commerce shall submit these
1.25 	recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2006.