Pennsylvania § 4431 - Duties of Court Administrator.

§ 4431. Duties of Court Administrator.

(a) Interpreter program.--The Court Administrator may establish a program to appoint and use certified interpreters in judicial proceedings. To certify interpreters, the Court Administrator shall either:

(1) establish a program, which shall include:

(i) establishing and administering a comprehensive testing and certification program for interpreters;

(ii) establishing and adopting standards of proficiency, including, but not limited to, certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or similar registry;

(iii) conducting periodic examinations to ensure the availability of certified interpreters;

(iv) prescribing, determining and certifying the qualifications of persons who may serve as certified interpreters; and

(v) charging reasonable fees as deemed necessary for testing and certification; or

(2) establish and support a certification program by any means as deemed appropriate by the Court Administrator.

(b) List of certified interpreters.--The Court Administrator shall compile, maintain and disseminate a current list of interpreters certified by the Court Administrator for the courts through any means deemed appropriate by the Court Administrator, including, but not limited to, a written directory, which shall be maintained on file with the office of the clerk of courts in each judicial district, and through publication on the official World Wide Web site of the Administrative Office.

(c) Guidelines for court selection of otherwise qualified interpreters.--The Court Administrator shall provide guidelines to the courts for the selection and use of otherwise qualified interpreters in order to ensure that the highest standards of accuracy are maintained in all judicial proceedings subject to the provisions of this subchapter.

(d) Fee schedule.--The Court Administrator shall prescribe, subject to periodic review, a schedule of reasonable fees for services rendered by certified interpreters and otherwise qualified interpreters used in judicial proceedings.

(e) Standards of professional conduct.--

(1) The Court Administrator shall establish and adopt standards for a code of professional conduct for court interpreters for persons who are deaf.

(2) The Court Administrator shall establish, administer or recommend a process to review and respond to allegations of violations of the code of professional conduct for court interpreters of persons who are deaf, including, but not limited to, decertification and other disciplinary measures.