HF 3592

2nd Committee Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008)

Posted on 12/22/2009 12:39 p.m.

1.1A bill for an act 1.2relating to health; requiring the commissioner of health to establish a roster and 1.3develop a registry of health care interpreters; appropriating money;proposing 1.4coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144. 1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.6    Section 1. new text begin [144.058] INTERPRETER SERVICES QUALITY INITIATIVE. new text end 1.7     new text begin (a) The commissioner shall establish a voluntary statewide roster, and develop a plan new text end 1.8 new text begin for a registry and certification process for interpreters who provide high quality, spoken new text end 1.9 new text begin language health care interpreter services. The roster, registry, and certification process new text end 1.10 new text begin shall be based on the findings and recommendations set forth by the Interpreter Services new text end 1.11 new text begin Work Group required under Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 12, section 13. By January 1, new text end 1.12 new text begin 2009, the commissioner must do the following: new text end 1.13     new text begin (1) establish a roster of all available interpreters to address access concerns, new text end 1.14 new text begin particularly in rural areas; new text end 1.15     new text begin (2) develop a plan for a registry of spoken language health care interpreters, new text end 1.16 new text begin including: new text end 1.17     new text begin (i) development of standards for registration that set forth educational requirements, new text end 1.18 new text begin training requirements, demonstration of language proficiency and interpreting skills, new text end 1.19 new text begin agreement to abide by a code of ethics, and a criminal background check; new text end 1.20     new text begin (ii) recommendations for appropriate alternate requirements in languages for which new text end 1.21 new text begin testing and training programs do not exist; new text end 1.22     new text begin (iii) recommendations for appropriate fees; and new text end 1.23     new text begin (iv) recommendations for establishing and maintaining the standards for inclusion new text end 1.24 new text begin in the registry; and new text end 2.1     new text begin (3) develop a plan for implementing a certification process based on national new text end 2.2 new text begin testing and certification processes for spoken language interpreters 12 months after the new text end 2.3 new text begin establishment of a national certification process. new text end 2.4     new text begin (b) The commissioner shall consult with the Interpreter Stakeholder Group of the new text end 2.5 new text begin Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association for advice on the standards new text end 2.6 new text begin required to plan for the development of a registry and certification process. new text end 2.7     new text begin (c) The commissioner shall charge an annual fee of $50 to include an interpreter in new text end 2.8 new text begin the roster. new text end 2.9 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 2.10    Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION. new text end 2.11     new text begin $25,000 is appropriated from the state government special revenue fund for fiscal new text end 2.12 new text begin year 2009 to the commissioner of health to establish a roster and develop a plan for the new text end 2.13 new text begin registry of health care interpreter services. new text end