IN RE: PETITION TO ADOPT FLORIDA RULES FOR CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF COURT INTERPRETERS AND FLORIDA RULE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION 2.073.
Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC06-1083
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IN RE: PETITION TO ADOPT FLORIDA RULES FOR CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF COURT INTERPRETERS AND FLORIDA RULE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION 2.073.
[June 29, 2006]
PER CURIAM.
The Supreme Court Interpreter's Committee has filed a petition asking the Court to expedite adoption of Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Court Interpreters and new Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.073, Appointment of Interpreters for Non-English-Speaking Persons, in response to the recent enactment of chapter 2006-253, Laws of Florida. We have jurisdiction and adopt the new rules on an emergency basis, under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.130(a). See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.
BACKGROUND
In February 2003, the Supreme Court Interpreter's Committee (Committee) was appointed to evaluate the court system's ability to effectively deliver court interpreting services to Florida's citizens. See In re Court Interpreter Rules, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC03-8 (Feb. 12, 2003) (on file with Clerk, Fla. Sup. Ct.).
The Committee was specifically asked to consider whether rules of procedure regarding court interpreters are needed and to propose any rules the Committee deemed necessary. In fulfilling its charge, the Committee considered the need for (1) a court rule governing the use and management of court interpreter services; and (2) a formal certification program for establishing the qualifications of foreign language court interpreters.
In October 2003, the Committee submitted its report and recommendations to the Court. The Committee recommended that the Court adopt certification rules originally developed by the Trial Court Performance and Accountability Committee's Court Interpreter Workgroup, as well as rule 2.073, previously approved by the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee.[1] The Committee further recommended that, although it had concluded that this Court possesses inherent authority to adopt standards of training and professional conduct as part of a certification process for court interpreters, the Court should seek statutory authorization and funding to implement the proposed certification program. After considering the Committee's 2003 report and recommendations, the Court deferred consideration of the proposed rules pending statutory authorization and funding for the certification program. That authorization and funding were received in the last legislative session.
Among other things, chapter 2006-253, § 1, Laws of Florida, effective July 1, 2006,[2] authorizes this Court to â€
