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Duties of department - 2 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 562

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     § 562.  Duties of department.
        (a)  Interpreter program.--The department shall establish a
     program to appoint and use certified interpreters in
     administrative proceedings that is consistent with the program
     established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
     pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 44 (relating to court interpreters).
     As part of the program, the department may grant automatic
     certification to any interpreter that has been certified
     pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 44. To certify interpreters, the
     department may establish a program which may include:
            (1)  establishing and administering a comprehensive
        testing and certification program for interpreters;
            (2)  establishing and adopting standards of proficiency,
        written and oral, in English and the language to be
        interpreted, including, but not limited to, certification by
        the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania as provided in 42
        Pa.C.S. Ch. 44;
            (3)  conducting periodic examinations to ensure the
        availability of certified interpreters pursuant to this
        subchapter;
            (4)  prescribing, determining and certifying the
        qualifications of persons who may serve as certified
        interpreters for persons with limited English proficiency;
            (5)  charging reasonable fees, as deemed necessary, for
        testing and certification;
            (6)  reciprocity of certification for interpreters from
        other jurisdictions, provided that, in the judgment of the
        department, the criteria for certification in the foreign
        jurisdiction is at least as stringent as that established by
        the department or the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania;
            (7)  providing for the audio recording of testimony that
        is the subject of interpretation; and
            (8)  providing a continuing education requirement for
        interpreters.
        (b)  List of certified interpreters.--The department shall
     compile, maintain and disseminate a current list of interpreters
     certified by the department to the agencies through any means
     deemed appropriate by the department, including, but not limited
     to, a written directory and publication on the official World
     Wide Web site of the department.
        (c)  Guidelines for selection of otherwise qualified
     interpreters.--The department shall provide guidelines to the
     agencies for the selection and use of otherwise qualified
     interpreters in order to ensure that the highest standards of
     accuracy are maintained in all administrative proceedings
     subject to this subchapter.
        (d)  Fee schedule.--The department shall prescribe, subject
     to periodic review, a schedule of reasonable fees for services
     rendered by certified interpreters and otherwise qualified
     interpreters.
        (e)  Standards of professional conduct.--
            (1)  The department shall establish and adopt standards
        for a code of professional conduct for administrative
        proceeding interpreters for persons with limited English
        proficiency.
            (2)  The department shall establish, administer or
        recommend a process to review and respond to allegations of
        violations of the code of professional conduct for
        administrative proceeding interpreters for persons with
        limited English proficiency, including, but not limited to,
        decertification and other disciplinary measures.
        (f)  Certification by courts.--Any interpreter certified by
     the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts pursuant to 42
     Pa.C.S. Ch. 44 shall be deemed certified pursuant to this
     chapter.

Last modified: November 27, 2007