HB 1174 — Concerning court interpreters.

H-0700.1Z-0267.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1174 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Civil Rights & Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Peterson, Thai, Ryu, Taylor, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Goodman, Davis, Ormsby, Lekanoff, Salahuddin, and Hill;

by request of Administrative Office of the Courts)Courts READPrefiled FIRST01/07/25. TIME 02/18/25.

Read first time 01/13/25.

Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.

1 SHBHB 1174 Sec.

2 SHBHB 1174 (1) ((Whenever an interpreter is appointed to assist a non- English-speaking person in a legal proceeding, the appointing authority shall, in the absence of a written waiver by the person, appoint a certified or a qualified interpreter to assist the person throughout the proceedings.

3 SHBHB 1174 (2) If good cause is found for using an interpreter who is not ((certified or if a qualified interpreter is appointed, the appointing authority shall make a preliminary determination, on the basis of testimony or stated needs of the non-English-speaking person, that the proposed interpreter is able to interpret accurately all communications to and from such person in that particular proceeding.

4 SHBHB 1174 Sec.

5 SHBHB 1174 (a) A ((non-English-speaking)) person with limited English proficiency requests a waiver on the record;

6 SHBHB 1174 (3) The administrative office of the courts shall establish and adopt standards of proficiency, written and oral, in English and the language to be interpreted.

(4))),(4))) and court-mandated classes, a person with limited English proficiency is not responsible for the cost of the interpreter if that person is:

(ii) Subpoenaed or summoned;

7 SHBHB 1174 (iii)(ii) ASubpoenaed parent, guardian, or custodiansummoned; of a juvenile;

(iii) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a juvenile;

(b)(i)(b) SubjectIn tolegal theproceedings availabilityinitiated ofby amountsagencies appropriatedof forgovernment, thisthe specificcost purpose,of inproviding allthe court-mandatedinterpreter classes,shall abe personborne withby limitedthe Englishgovernmental proficiencybody isinitiating not responsible for the costlegal ofproceedings. the interpreter if that person is:

(A) A party;

(B) Subpoenaed or summoned;

(C) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a juvenile;

or (D) Compelled to appear.

(ii) Court-mandated classes do not require the use of court- credentialed interpreters.

Where court-mandated classes are provided through a court-contracted outside provider, the contract may require the provider to bear the cost of interpreter services.

(c) In legal proceedings initiated by agencies of government, the cost of providing the interpreter shall be borne by the governmental body initiating the legal proceedings.

p.(1) ((Each trial court)) Trial courts organized under this title and Titles 3 and 35 RCW must develop and maintain a written language ((assistance)) access plan to provide a framework for the provision of ((interpreter)) language access services for ((non-English- speaking)) persons with limited English proficiency accessing the court system and its programs in both civil and criminal legal matters.

8 SHB 1174 (1) ((Each trial court)) Trial courts organized under this title and Titles 3 and 35 RCW must develop and maintain a written language ((assistance)) access plan to provide a framework for the provision of ((interpreter)) language access services for ((non-English- speaking)) persons with limited English proficiency accessing the court system and its programs in both civil and criminal legal matters.

(a)p. Procedures to identify and ((assess)) provide the language needs of ((non-English-speaking)) persons with limited English proficiency using the court system;

8 HB 1174 (a) Procedures to identify and ((assess)) provide the language needs of ((non-English-speaking)) persons with limited English proficiency using the court system;

(f) A process for ((requiring and providing)) training ((to)) judges, court clerks, and ((other)) court staff on ((the requirements of the language assistance plan)) best practices in serving individuals with limited English proficiency in legal proceedings and p.how to effectively ((access)) assign and work with interpreters and provide interpretation;

9 SHB 1174 how to effectively ((access)) assign and work with interpreters and provide interpretation;

(((3)p. Each court must provide a copy of its language assistance plan to the interpreter commission established by supreme court rule for approval prior to receiving state reimbursement for interpreter costs under this chapter.

9 HB 1174 (((3) Each court must provide a copy of its language assistance plan to the interpreter commission established by supreme court rule for approval prior to receiving state reimbursement for interpreter costs under this chapter.

(6) Each court must provide a copy of its language access plan to the administrative office of the courts in accordance with criteria for approval recommended by the interpreter and language access p.commission for approval prior to receiving state reimbursement for interpreter costs under this chapter.

10 SHB 1174 commission for approval prior to receiving state reimbursement for interpreter costs under this chapter.

(1)p. Examine the administrative methods and systems employed in the offices of the judges, clerks, stenographers, and employees of the courts and make recommendations, through the chief justice, for the improvement of the same;

10 HB 1174 (1) Examine the administrative methods and systems employed in the offices of the judges, clerks, stenographers, and employees of the courts and make recommendations, through the chief justice, for the improvement of the same;

p.(8) Act as secretary of the judicial conference referred to in RCW 2.56.060;

11 SHB 1174 (8) Act as secretary of the judicial conference referred to in RCW 2.56.060;

It is the intent of the legislature that an objective workloadp. analysis become the basis for creating additional district and superior court positions, and recommendations should address that objective;

11 HB 1174 workload analysis become the basis for creating additional district and superior court positions, and recommendations should address that objective;

p.(16) Develop a curriculum for a general understanding of hate crime offenses, as well as specific legal skills and knowledge of RCW 9A.36.080, relevant cases, court rules, and the special needs of hate crime offense victims.

12 SHB 1174 (16) Develop a curriculum for a general understanding of hate crime offenses, as well as specific legal skills and knowledge of RCW 9A.36.080, relevant cases, court rules, and the special needs of hate crime offense victims.