Bill 3320

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3320
Primary Sponsor:                Baxley
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Deaf interpreter for courts
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Date Tabled:                    19930504    
Computer Document Number:       DKA/4074AL.93
Introduced Date:                19930202    
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19930504    
Last History Type:              Tabled in Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Baxley
                                     J. Wilder
                                     Waites
                                     Corning
                                     Barber
                                     Shissias
                                     Wells
                                     Rudnick
                                     Walker
                                     Wright
                                     Jennings
                                     T.C. Alexander
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

3320  House   19930504      Tabled in Committee             25
3320  House   19930202      Introduced, read first time,    25
                            referred to Committee

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 15-27-15, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO AN INTERPRETER FOR A DEAF PERSON WHO IS A PARTY TO A LEGAL PROCEEDING OR CONFINED TO AN INSTITUTION, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF COURT INTERPRETER FOR THE DEAF AND TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 15-27-15 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 15-27-15. (A) Whenever any a deaf person is a party to any or witness in a legal proceeding or a witness therein, or confined to any an institution, the court shall appoint a qualified interpreter, or as many as needed, approved by the deaf person and either the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf to interpret the proceedings to and the testimony of the deaf person unless the deaf person waives such this privilege or the judge finds that it is not necessary for the fulfillment of justice. The court shall determine a reasonable fee for interpreting services which must be paid out of the general fund of the State from such those funds appropriated to the Judicial Department for this purpose by the General Assembly.

(B) For the purpose of implementing the provisions of subsection (A), the position of Court Interpreter for the Deaf is established within the Judicial Department. The Court Interpreter for the Deaf must be appointed by the Chief Justice and shall serve at his pleasure. He must be certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf with a `SC:L' (Specialist Skills: Legal Certificate) Designation, and shall receive compensation provided by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act. The Court Interpreter for the Deaf when available shall perform those functions specified by subsection (A) without a fee being charged for his services, but if not available other qualified interpreters shall continue to be appointed and compensated in the manner provided by subsection (A)."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.