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Committee hears bill to modernize court interpreter rules and reimbursement
Summary
The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1174, which would update interpreter credentialing, appointment, waiver, cost and court language-plan rules and expand Administrative Office of the Courts support and reimbursement for language access.
House Bill 1174, a measure to update Washington state law on court interpreters, drew testimony Tuesday that framed the proposal as an access-to-justice and equity step for people with limited English proficiency.
The bill would direct the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to maintain a credentialing program, authorize multiple credential types, require courts to appoint credentialed interpreters in proceedings involving people with limited English proficiency absent good cause, revise waiver rules, revise cost and reimbursement rules, and require courts to submit language access plans to the AOC every two years.
Why it matters: Supporters said the changes would align statute with current practice and federal guidance and make language access more consistent and reliable across courts. “For…
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