-
Current through October 23, 2012
For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) "Appointing authority" means the presiding judge of any court of the District of Columbia, the chairperson of any District of Columbia board or commission, the director or commissioner of any department or agency of the District of Columbia, the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia or the chairperson of any committee of the Council of the District of Columbia conducting a hearing, or any other person presiding at any hearing or other proceeding in which a qualified interpreter is required pursuant to this chapter.
(2) "Communication-impaired person" means a hearing-impaired person or a non-English or limited-English speaking person.
(3) "Hearing-impaired person" means a person who, because of a hearing impairment, cannot readily understand oral communications or who cannot communicate effectively through speech, and, if the communication at issue is in writing, who cannot communicate effectively in the written English language.
(3A) "Intermediary interpreter" means any person, including any hearing-impaired person, who is able to assist in providing an accurate interpretation between spoken English and sign language or between variants of sign language by acting as an intermediary between a hearing-impaired person and a qualified interpreter.
(4) "Non-English or limited-English speaking person" means a person who is unable to readily understand oral and written communications in the English language or who cannot communicate effectively in the spoken or written English language.
(5) "Qualified interpreter" means a person who is listed by the Office of Court Interpreter Services or the United States Department of State as being, or is otherwise found by the court to be, skilled in the language or form of communication needed to communicate fluently with a communication-impaired person and to translate or interpret information accurately to and from the communication-impaired person.
(6) "Qualified interviewer" means a person who is certified by the Metropolitan Police Department as being, or is otherwise found by the court to be, skilled in the language or form of communication needed to communicate fluently with a communication-impaired person.
(Jan. 28, 1988, D.C. Law 7-62, § 2, 34 DCR 7426; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-306, § 201(a), 53 DCR 8610.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 31-2701.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 16-306 rewrote the section, which had read as follows:
"For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
"(1) 'Appointing authority' means the presiding judge of any court of the District of Columbia, the chairperson of any District of Columbia board or commission, the director or commissioner of any department or agency of the District of Columbia, the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia or the chairperson of any committee of the Council of the District of Columbia conducting a hearing, or any other person presiding at any hearing or other proceeding in which a qualified interpreter is required pursuant to this chapter.
"(2) 'Communication-impaired person' means a person whose hearing is impaired or who does not speak English.
"(3) 'Hearing-impaired person' means a person who, because of a hearing impairment, cannot readily understand oral communications or who cannot communicate effectively through speech.
(4) 'Non-English speaking person' means a person who is unable to readily understand oral and written communications in the English language or who cannot communicate effectively in the spoken English language.
"(5) 'Qualified interpreter' means a person who is listed by the Office of Interpreter Services as being skilled in the language or form of communication needed to communicate accurately with a communication-impaired person and who is able to translate information to and from the communication-impaired person.
"(6) 'Intermediary interpreter' means any person, including any hearing-impaired person, who is able to assist in providing an accurate interpretation between spoken English and sign language or between variants of sign language by acting as an intermediary between a hearing-impaired person and a qualified interpreter."
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Omnibus Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-445, July 19, 2006, 53 DCR 6443).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Omnibus Public Safety Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-490, October 18, 2006, 53 DCR 8686).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Omnibus Public Safety Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-10, January 16, 2007, 54 DCR 1479).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Omnibus Public Safety Second Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-25, April 19, 2007, 54 DCR 4036).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 7-62, "Interpreters for Hearing-Impaired and Non-English Speaking Persons Act of 1987," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-108, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 13, 1987, and October 27, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 5, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-95 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 16-306, the "Omnibus Public Safety Amendment Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-247, which was referred to Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 6, 2006, and October 3, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on October 17, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-482 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-306 became effective on April 24, 2007.
