Committee advances bill to create health care interpreter services work group

Senator Wicklund presented Senate File 20-43, a bill to create a health care interpreter services work group to study spoken-language interpreting standards, access barriers (especially in rural areas), certification and reimbursement issues, and workforce challenges. The committee adopted an amendment and recommended the bill be referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.

"Minnesota's health care interpreting community plays a vital role in bridging language barriers between health care providers and patients," Senator Wicklund said in opening remarks. Testifier Mauricio Montezooka, who identified himself as a certified medical interpreter, vice president of the Upper Midwest Interpreters and Translators Association and a Hennepin Healthcare board member, told the committee the work group is needed to address workforce shortages, inconsistent recognition and the potential impacts of AI on interpretation.

"There is a tremendous need around interpreters and language access for the communities that we serve in every hospital and every clinic," Montezooka said. "The work group will allow us to come to the table and figure out what is the best outcome and make recommendations in order to make sure that we have the best possible language access for the patients that we serve in our communities."

Sponsor commentary and the adopted A3 amendment clarified administrative support roles and appointment deadlines for the Department of Health and added an expiration date for the working group. The A3 amendment was moved, adopted by voice vote, and the bill as amended was recommended to pass and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.

The transcript records no formal opposition during the committee hearing.