HF 3592

2nd Committee Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/22/2009 12:39pm

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. [144.058] INTERPRETER SERVICES QUALITY INITIATIVE.
1.7    (a) The commissioner shall establish a voluntary statewide roster, and develop a plan
1.8for a registry and certification process for interpreters who provide high quality, spoken
1.9language health care interpreter services. The roster, registry, and certification process
1.10shall be based on the findings and recommendations set forth by the Interpreter Services
1.11Work Group required under Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 12, section 13. By January 1,
1.122009, the commissioner must do the following:
1.13    (1) establish a roster of all available interpreters to address access concerns,
1.14particularly in rural areas;
1.15    (2) develop a plan for a registry of spoken language health care interpreters,
1.16including:
1.17    (i) development of standards for registration that set forth educational requirements,
1.18training requirements, demonstration of language proficiency and interpreting skills,
1.19agreement to abide by a code of ethics, and a criminal background check;
1.20    (ii) recommendations for appropriate alternate requirements in languages for which
1.21testing and training programs do not exist;
1.22    (iii) recommendations for appropriate fees; and
1.23    (iv) recommendations for establishing and maintaining the standards for inclusion
1.24in the registry; and
2.1    (3) develop a plan for implementing a certification process based on national
2.2testing and certification processes for spoken language interpreters 12 months after the
2.3establishment of a national certification process.
2.4    (b) The commissioner shall consult with the Interpreter Stakeholder Group of the
2.5Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association for advice on the standards
2.6required to plan for the development of a registry and certification process.
2.7    (c) The commissioner shall charge an annual fee of $50 to include an interpreter in
2.8the roster.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.10    Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
2.11    $25,000 is appropriated from the state government special revenue fund for fiscal
2.12year 2009 to the commissioner of health to establish a roster and develop a plan for the
2.13registry of health care interpreter services.