2000 Minnesota Statutes

     611.33 Qualified interpreter. 

    Subdivision 1.  No person shall be appointed as a qualified 
 interpreter pursuant to sections 611.30 to 611.34 unless said 
 person is readily able to communicate with the handicapped 
 person, translate the proceedings for the handicapped person, 
 and accurately repeat and translate the statements of the 
 handicapped person to the officials before whom the proceeding 
 is taking place.  

    Subd. 2.  Every qualified interpreter appointed pursuant to 
 the provisions of sections 611.30 to 611.34, before entering 
 upon duties as such, shall take an oath, to make to the best of 
 the interpreter's skill and judgment a true interpretation to 
 the handicapped person being examined of all the proceedings, in 
 a language which said person understands, and to repeat the 
 statements, in the English language, of said person to the court 
 or other officials before whom the proceeding is taking place.  

    Subd. 3.  The fees and expenses of a qualified interpreter 
 shall be fixed and ordered paid by the presiding official before 
 whom the proceeding is taking place.  The fees and expenses must 
 be paid by the state courts.  Payment for any activities 
 requiring interpreter services on behalf of law enforcement, the 
 board of public defense, prosecutors, or corrections agents 
 other than court appearances is the responsibility of the agency 
 that requested the services. 

    Subd. 4.  An interpreter pursuant to sections 611.30 to 
 611.34 shall not, without the consent of the person handicapped 
 in communication, be allowed to disclose any privileged 
 communication made by the person or any privileged information 
 gathered from the person which was communicated or gathered 
 during the time of service as an interpreter. 

    HIST: 1969 c 955 s 4; 1971 c 25 s 94; 1981 c 131 s 6; 1986 c 
 444; 1999 c 216 art 7 s 41 

*   NOTE:  Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 7, section 46, 
*subdivision 3, provides specific effective dates for the state 
*takeover of miscellaneous court costs under subdivision 3, as 
*amended by Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 7, section 41.