Rhode Island § 8-19-5 - Language Interpreters — Use of Language Interpreters in Legal Proceedings

§ 8-19-5. Certification of interpreters — Establishment and procedure.

The administrative office of state courts, with the approval of the supreme court, shall promulgate standards, criteria, and testing methods for the certification of foreign language interpreters under this chapter. The regulations promulgated shall address but not be limited to:

(1) Developing testing procedures for proficiency in the foreign language for which the interpreter is seeking certification;

(2) Developing testing procedures for proficiency in the English language;

(3) Developing testing procedures for knowledge of legal proceedings and legal terminologies;

(4) Developing standards for the approval of courses and/or curricula at colleges and universities and other institutes of higher learning that wish to offer courses in foreign language interpreting;

(5) Establishing minimum competency requirements for state certification as a foreign language interpreter;

(6) Establishing re-certification procedures and continuing educational requirements for certified and qualified interpreters;

(7) Establishing procedures for the termination, cancellation, or suspension of certificates issued to foreign language interpreters under this chapter;

(8) Establishing a code of ethics for foreign language interpreters;

(9) Establishing procedures for the recognition of foreign language interpreters who have been certified in other states or by the federal court;

(10) Establishing a procedure for the compilation and maintenance of statistics on the frequency and use of foreign language interpreters appointed under this chapter and the need for foreign language interpreters in other languages; and

(11) Establishing a procedure for the creation of a list of the names and contact information of all certified interpreters and qualified interpreters and making said list available to all courts covered by this chapter.