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Bill99th CongressFiled Nov 14, 1985Law
S. 1853

Court Interpreters Improvement Act of 1986

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What it doesSummary reported to senate with amendment(s) (Oct 2, 1986)

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment (without written report))

Court Interpreters Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Court Interpreters Act of 1978 to require the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to establish a program to facilitate the use of certified and otherwise qualified interpreters in judicial proceedings instituted by the United States.

Requires the Director to certify interpreters for any language after identifying a need for certified interpreters in that language.

Requires the Director to establish criteria for the selection of otherwise qualified interpreters: (1) in languages for which no interpreters have been certified; and (2) where no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Requires a presiding judicial official to utilize the services of any reasonably available certified interpreter. Allows the services of an otherwise qualified interpreter to be utilized when no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Allows an individual who waives the right to a certified interpreter to retain the services of a noncertified interpreter of his or her own choice.

Establishes the Federal Court Interpreters Advisory Board to: (1) review the quality of court interpreting in the Federal Courts and Grand Jury proceedings; and (2) make recommendations and advise the Director with respect to language in which interpreters are to be certified.

Authorizes appropriations to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

What just happenedOct 2, 1986

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1050.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT](R-UT)Sponsor
8 cosponsors5 D3 R
Read on Congress.gov
8cosponsors1committees13actions20subjects
  1. Oct 2, 1986Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1050.

  2. Oct 2, 1986Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  3. Oct 2, 1986Committee14000

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  4. Oct 2, 1986Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Judiciary Committee
  5. Sep 2, 1986Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Subcommittee on Courts discharged from further action.

    Judiciary Committee
  6. Jun 17, 1986Committee

    Subcommittee on Constitution. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee
  7. Apr 3, 1986Committee

    Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

    Judiciary Committee
  8. Feb 25, 1986Committee

    Subcommittee on Constitution. Hearings held.

    Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee
  9. Dec 17, 1985Committee

    Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Justice Department, Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Dec 17, 1985Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Referred jointly to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

    Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee
  11. Dec 17, 1985Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Referred jointly to the Subcommittee on Courts.

    Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee
  12. Nov 14, 1985IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  13. Nov 14, 1985IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Oct 2, 198601
(Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment (without written report))

Court Interpreters Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Court Interpreters Act of 1978 to require the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to establish a program to facilitate the use of certified and otherwise qualified interpreters in judicial proceedings instituted by the United States.

Requires the Director to certify interpreters for any language after identifying a need for certified interpreters in that language.

Requires the Director to establish criteria for the selection of otherwise qualified interpreters: (1) in languages for which no interpreters have been certified; and (2) where no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Requires a presiding judicial official to utilize the services of any reasonably available certified interpreter. Allows the services of an otherwise qualified interpreter to be utilized when no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Allows an individual who waives the right to a certified interpreter to retain the services of a noncertified interpreter of his or her own choice.

Establishes the Federal Court Interpreters Advisory Board to: (1) review the quality of court interpreting in the Federal Courts and Grand Jury proceedings; and (2) make recommendations and advise the Director with respect to language in which interpreters are to be certified.

Authorizes appropriations to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

Introduced in SenateNov 14, 198500

Court Interpreters Improvement Act of 1985 - Amends the Court Interpreters Act of 1978 to require the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to establish a program to facilitate the use of certified and otherwise qualified interpreters in judicial proceedings instituted by the United States.

Requires the Director to examine and certify interpreters in at least all of the following languages: Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French (Creole), Korean, Portuguese, Arabic, and American Sign Language.

Requires the Director to establish criteria for the selection of otherwise qualified interpreters: (1) in languages for which no interpreters have been certified; and (2) where no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Requires a presiding judicial official to utilize the services of any reasonably available certified interpreter. Allows the services of an otherwise qualified interpreter to be utilized when no certified interpreter is reasonably available.

Allows an individual who waives the right to a certified interpreter to retain the services of a noncertified interpreter of his or her own choice if such interpreter meets the criteria established by the Director.

Establishes the National Court Interpreters Special Task Force to make recommendations to the Director regarding the establishment of such program. Terminates such task force nine months after the date of enactment of this Act.

Authorizes appropriations to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Federal Judicial Center.

Court Interpreters Improvement Act of 1986 — Informed