Bill Text: WV HB2816 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Removing the terms “hearing impaired,” “hearing impairment,” and “deaf mute” from the West Virginia Code and substituting terms

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-11 - Chapter 126, Acts, Regular Session, 2019 [HB2816 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2019-HB2816-Enrolled.html

WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

ENROLLED

House Bill 2816

By Delegates Campbell, Canestraro, Higginbotham, Lavender-Bowe, Atkinson, Williams, R. Thompson, Caputo, Hornbuckle, Dean and Pack

[Passed March 8, 2019; in effect ninety days from passage.]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §5-14-1, §5-14-2, §5-14-3, §5-14-5, and §5-14-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §8-13-5a of said code; to amend and reenact §16-22A-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §16-35-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-20-1a and §18-20-1b of said code; to amend and reenact §29-3-16a of said code; to amend and reenact §52-1-8 of said code; and to amend and reenact §57-5-7 of said code, all relating to removing the terms “hearing impaired,” “hearing impairment,” and “deaf mute” from the West Virginia Code and substituting the terms “deaf or hard of hearing,” “hard of hearing,” “hearing difficulties,” or “difficulties in hearing” according to context.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.

ARTICLE 14. WEST VIRGINIA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING.


§5-14-1. Legislative findings.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(a) There is a need for West Virginia to adequately identify the deaf or hard of hearing population and provide efficient and effective services to such population;

(b) Deaf or hard of hearing people need to be more involved in the decisions and programs that affect their lives by soliciting and seriously considering their collective opinion on appropriate matters;

(c) Cooperation among state and local agencies must be facilitated in an effort to ensure that adequate and appropriate services are available and provided;

(d) In order to further the aforementioned goals it is necessary to determine what services exist and what services can be developed in order to match services to individual needs;

(e) A rubella epidemic from 1963 to 1965 caused a number of infants in West Virginia to be born deaf or hard of hearing. These individuals are approaching the ages where they will no longer be eligible for educational services, thus requiring services as young adults. The Legislature, therefore, declares that there is an unprecedented and imperative need to plan and prepare for the multiplicity of services required in order to ensure a life-long continuum of services to this particular population;

(f) There must be more emphasis on the use of interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and on the quality control of such services;

(g) There must be more emphasis on the use of telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDDs) and means to provide them for deaf or hard of hearing people;

(h) Through the implementation of the provisions of this article, the deaf and hard-of-hearing population of West Virginia will be aided in their efforts to live independent and productive lives.


§5-14-2. Definitions.


As used in this article:

(a) “Deaf” means severe to profound impairment of the sense of hearing whereby the understanding of speech is unattainable through the ear alone with or without amplification, and visual communication is used as the primary mode of communication.

(b) “Hard of hearing” means significant impairment to the sense of hearing, but not to the extent that the person must rely primarily on visual communication.

§5-14-3. Continuation of commission; membership.


(a) The West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is continued within the Department of Health and Human Resources consisting of 17 persons, eight of whom shall serve ex officio. The remaining members are appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The commission shall meet no less than four times annually. All meetings and activities held by the commission shall be attended by at least two qualified interpreters who shall be hired at the commission's expense or provided free of charge by agencies, organizations or individuals willing to volunteer qualified interpreters.

(b) The members are: The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources, or his or her designee; the Commissioner of the Division of Labor, or his or her designee; the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, or his or her designee; the State Superintendent of Schools, or his or her designee; the Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, or his or her designee; the Commissioner of the Division of Human Services, or his or her designee; the Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children, or his or her designee; and the Superintendent of the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, or his or her designee, all of whom serve ex officio with full voting privileges.

(c) The Governor shall appoint nine persons, at least five of whom are deaf or hard of hearing, one of whom is the parent of a deaf child, one of whom is a certified teacher of the deaf or hard of hearing, one audiologist and one otolaryngologist. Of the five deaf people, at least three shall be selected from a list of five people recommended by the Board of the West Virginia Association of the Deaf.

§5-14-5. Powers and duties of the commission; information clearinghouse; coordination of interpreters; outreach programs; seminars and training sessions.


(a) The commission shall maintain a clearinghouse of information, the purpose of which is to aid deaf or hard of hearing persons and others in obtaining appropriate services or information about such services, including, but not limited to, education, communication (including interpreters), group home facilities, independent living skills, recreational facilities, employment, vocational training, health and mental health services, substance abuse and other services necessary to assure their ability to function in society. The commission shall consult existing public and private agencies and organizations in compiling and maintaining the clearinghouse.

(b) The commission shall establish, maintain and coordinate a statewide service to provide courts, state and local legislative bodies and others with a list of qualified and certified interpreters for the deaf and a list of qualified and certified teachers of American sign language.

(c) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall promulgate rules pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code for the state quality assurance evaluation, including the establishment of required qualifications and ethical standards for interpreters, the approval of interpreters, the monitoring and investigation of interpreters and the suspension and revocation of approvals. The commission may conduct interpreter evaluations and collect and expend funds with regard thereto.

(d) The commission shall develop an outreach program to familiarize the public with the rights and needs of deaf or hard of hearing people and of available services.

(e) The commission shall investigate the condition of the hearing-impaired in this state with particular attention to those who are aged, homeless, needy, victims of rubella and victims of abuse or neglect. It shall determine the means the state possesses for establishing group homes for its hearing-impaired citizens and the need for additional facilities. The commission shall also determine the advisability and necessity of providing services to the multi-handicapped deaf or hard of hearing.

§5-14-8. Executive director; staff.


There shall be within the commission an executive director who shall be appointed by the commission and whose compensation shall be fixed by the commission within the budgetary appropriation thereof. The executive director shall be in the exempt class of civil service and may not be a member of the commission. The executive director may attend all meetings of the commission, as well as its committees, but has no vote on decisions or actions of the commission or its committees. The executive director shall carry out the decisions and actions of the commission, hire all staff, administer all affairs of the commission in accordance with its policies and discharge such other duties as the commission shall from time to time determine. The commission may employ such other officers, employees and clerical assistants as it considers necessary and may fix their compensation within the amounts made available by appropriation. To the extent possible, the executive director shall be deaf or hard of hearing and shall be proficient in communicating with deaf or hard of hearing individuals using varying communication modes.

CHAPTER 8. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.


ARTICLE 13. TAXATION AND FINANCE.


PART I. POWERS OF TAXATION

§8-13-5a. Public utilities tax.

Every municipality has the plenary power and authority to levy and collect an excise tax on the privilege of purchasing, using or consuming, within the corporate limits of the municipality, public utility services and tangible personal property from public utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. The tax is computed on the basis of an amount not to exceed two percent of the gross amount of each periodic statement rendered purchasers or consumers by public utilities: Provided, That sales of tangible personal property such as appliances or the like, as distinguished from the public service supplied, are not included in the gross amount subject to the measure of this tax: Provided, however, That this tax does not apply to sales of telecommunications services to another telecommunications provider for the purposes of access, interconnection or resale to consumers. Charges or fees for items on the periodic statement that are not public utility services, including surcharges for telecommunications relay services for the deaf or hard of hearing and fees for enhanced emergency telephone systems, are not included in the gross amount subject to the measure of this tax. The purchasers or consumers shall pay to the public utilities the amount of the tax levied pursuant to this section which is added to and constitutes a part of the cost of the service or property so purchased or consumed and is collectible as such by the public utilities who shall account to the municipality levying same for all tax paid by the purchasers or consumers pursuant to the provisions of any ordinance imposing the tax.

Any ordinance imposing the tax shall require the collection thereof uniformly from all purchasers and consumers of all the services and property within the corporate limits of the municipality and contain reasonable rules governing the collection thereof by the utilities and the method of its payment and accounting to the municipality: Provided, That the tax is not effective until the municipality gives 60 days written notice by certified mail to any utility doing business therein of the effective date of the ordinance. Any required separation of gross income shall occur in the ordinance whenever necessary to comply with state or federal law: Provided, however, That the tax authorized by this section may not be levied upon charges for telephone services which are paid by the insertion of coins into coin-operated telephones, and specific charges for telephone calls to points outside the taxing municipality: Provided further, That specific charges for telephone calls to points outside the taxing municipality is construed to mean separately itemized or bulk-billed charges for long distance telecommunications service to points outside the local exchange service area. The charges subject to the tax authorized by this section include local usage charges applicable to telephone calls originating within the corporate limits of the municipality which imposes the tax, regardless of where the calls terminate, and also include the federal subscriber line charge.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law to the contrary contained in the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, the provisions of this section are in addition to all other taxing authority heretofore granted municipalities.

CHAPTER 16. PUBLIC HEALTH.


ARTICLE 22A. TESTING OF NEWBORN INFANTS FOR HEARING IMPAIRMENTS.


§16-22A-4. Hearing impairment testing advisory committee established.

(a) There is hereby established a West Virginia hearing difficulties testing advisory committee which shall advise the Director of the Division of Health regarding the protocol, validity, monitoring and cost of testing procedures required under this article. This committee is to meet four times per year for the initial two years and on the call of the director thereafter. The director shall serve as the chair and shall appoint 12 members, one representing each of the following groups:

(1) A representative of the health insurance industry;

(2) An otolaryngologist or otologist;

(3) An audiologist with experience in evaluating infants;

(4) A neonatologist;

(5) A pediatrician;

(6) A hospital administrator;

(7) A speech or language pathologist;

(8) A teacher or administrative representative from the West Virginia school of the deaf;

(9) A parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child;

(10) A representative from the office of early intervention services within the Department of Health and Human Resources;

(11) A representative from the state Department of Education; and

(12) A representative from the West Virginia commission for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

(b) Members of this advisory committee shall serve without compensation. A majority of members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of all business. Members shall serve for two-year terms and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

ARTICLE 35. LEAD ABATEMENT.


§16-35-2. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(1) Lead is a toxic substance and harmful to the citizens of this state;

(2) Lead poisoning is a devastating health hazard, particularly to young children, and results in serious long-term health effects;

(3) Children exposed to even low levels of lead exhibit learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, deafness or hearing difficulties, and neurological damage;

(4) Workers and others who come into contact with lead when removing or remediating lead-based materials are also at risk of lead poisoning;

(5) Exposure occurs from contact with materials containing lead, including, but not limited to, lead-based paint chips, lead dust, and lead-contaminated soil;

(6) The most significant source of exposure is lead-based paint, particularly in houses built prior to one thousand nine hundred seventy-eight;

(7) The danger posed by lead-based paint hazards can be controlled by abatement or interim controls that limit exposure to lead-based paint hazards; and

(8) The public health and safety of this state will be better protected when all persons who handle lead-contaminated substances are thoroughly trained and knowledgeable regarding safe methods of handling and disposing of such materials.

(b) Therefore, It is the purpose of this article to protect the health of the children of the state and those who undertake remediation of the lead health hazard by establishing guidelines for the assessment and removal of lead hazards from homes and other buildings where children are frequently present and exposed to the danger of lead poisoning.

CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.


ARTICLE 20. EDUCATION OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN.


§18-20-1a. Preschool programs for severely disabled children; rules and regulations.

(a) During the school year beginning on July 1, 1985, each county board of education shall develop a coordinated service delivery plan in accordance with standards for preschool programs for severely disabled children to be developed by the State Board of Education and begin services where plans are already developed.

(b) Only in any year in which funds are made available by legislative appropriation, and only to the extent of such funding, each county board of education shall establish and maintain a special educational program, including, but not limited to, special classes and home-teaching and visiting-teacher services for all severely disabled children between the ages of three and five according to the following schedule:

(1) By the school year beginning on July 1, 1986, and thereafter, for severely disabled children who are age four before September 1, 1986;

(2) By the school year beginning on July 1, 1987, and thereafter, for severely disabled children who are age three before September 1, 1987.

As used in this section, the term “severely disabled children” means those children who fall in any one of the following categories as defined or to be defined in the State Board of Education standards for the education of exceptional children: Severe behavioral disorders, severely speech and language impaired, deaf-blind, deafness or hearing difficulties, autistic, physically handicapped, disabled profoundly intellectually disabled, trainable intellectually disabled or visually impaired.

Before August 1, 1985, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations to advance and accomplish this program and to assure that an appropriate educational program is available to all such children in the state, including children in mental health facilities, residential institutions and private schools.

This section does not prevent county boards of education from providing special education programs, including, but not limited to, special schools, classes, regular class programs and home-teaching or visiting-teacher services for severely disabled preschool children prior to such times as are required by this section. In addition, county boards of education may provide these services to preschool exceptional children in disability categories other than those listed above.


§18-20-1b. Preschool programs for handicapped children; rules and regulations.


(a) During the school year beginning on July 1, 1991, each county board of education shall develop a coordinated service delivery plan in accordance with standards for preschool programs for handicapped children to be developed by the State Board of Education and begin services where plans are already developed.

(b) Each county board of education shall establish and maintain special education programs, including, but not limited to, special classes, regular classes and home-teaching and visiting-teacher services for all handicapped children ages three through five, inclusive.

As used in this section, the term “handicapped children” means those children who fall in any one of the following categories as defined or to be defined in the State Board of Education standards for the education of exceptional children: Severe behavioral disorders, communication disordered, deaf-blind, developmentally delayed, deaf or hard of hearing, other health impaired including autism, physically handicapped, mentally impaired or visually impaired.

Before August 1, 1991, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to advance and accomplish this program and to assure that an appropriate educational program is available to all such children in the state, including children in mental health facilities, residential institutions, foster care, correctional facilities and private schools.

This section does not prevent county boards of education from providing special education programs, including, but not limited to, special schools or classes, regular class programs and home-teaching or visiting-teacher services for severely handicapped preschool children prior to such times as are required by this section.

CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.


ARTICLE 3. FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT.


§29-3-16a. Smoke detectors in one- and two-family dwellings; carbon monoxide detectors in residential units, schools, and daycare facilities; penalty.


(a) An operational smoke detector shall be installed in the immediate vicinity of each sleeping area within all one-and two-family dwellings, including any “manufactured home” as that term is defined in §21-9-2(j) of this code. The smoke detector shall be capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and shall meet the specifications and be installed as provided in the current edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 72, “Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Household Fire Warning Equipment” and in the manufacturer’s specifications. When activated, the smoke detector shall provide an alarm suitable to warn the occupants of the danger of fire.

(b) The owner of each dwelling described in subsection (a) of this section shall provide, install, and replace the operational smoke detectors required by this section. To assure that the smoke detector continues to be operational, in each dwelling described in subsection (a) of this section which is not occupied by the owner of the dwelling, the tenant in any dwelling shall perform routine maintenance on the smoke detectors within the dwelling.

(c) Where a dwelling is not occupied by the owner and is occupied by an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, the owner shall, upon written request by or on behalf of the individual, provide and install a smoke detector with a light signal sufficient to warn the deaf or hard of hearing individual of the danger of fire.

(d) An automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with the current edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 13D, “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies” may be provided in lieu of smoke detectors.

(e) After investigating a fire in any dwelling described in subsection (a) of this section, the local investigating authority shall issue to the owner a smoke detector installation order in the absence of the required smoke detectors.

(f) An operational single station carbon monoxide detector with a suitable alarm or a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector, which shall be alternating current (AC) powered, either plugged directly in to an electrical outlet that is not controlled by a switch or hardwired into an alternating current (AC) electrical source, with battery backup, shall be installed, maintained, tested, repaired, or replaced, if necessary, in accordance with the manufacturer’s direction:

(1) In any newly constructed residential unit which has a fuel-burning heating or cooking source including, but not limited to, an oil or gas furnace or stove;

(2) In any residential unit which is connected to a newly constructed building, including, but not limited to, a garage, storage shed, or barn, which has a fuel-burning heating or cooking source, including, but not limited to, an oil or gas furnace or stove;

(3) Effective September 1, 2012, in either a common area where the general public has access or all rooms in which a person will be sleeping that are adjoining to and directly below and above all areas or rooms that contain permanently installed fuel-burning appliances and equipment that emit carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion located within all apartment buildings, boarding houses, dormitories, long-term care facilities, adult or child care facilities, assisted living facilities, one- and two-family dwellings intended to be rented or leased, hotels and motels.

(g) Effective January 1, 2013, all single station carbon monoxide detectors with a suitable alarm or a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors shall be hardwired into an alternating current (AC) electrical source, with battery backup, when installed in all newly constructed apartment buildings, boarding houses, dormitories, hospitals, long-term care facilities, adult or child care facilities, assisted living facilities, one- and two-family dwellings intended to be rented or leased, hotels and motels.

(h) In any long-term care facility that is staffed on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis, the single station carbon monoxide detector with a suitable alarm or a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector is only required to be installed in an area of the facility that permits the detector to be audible to the staff on duty.

(i) Effective January 1, 2019, carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed in every public or private school or daycare facility that uses a fuel-burning heating system or other fuel-burning device that produces combustion gases. A carbon monoxide detector shall be located in each area with a fuel-burning heating system or other fuel-burning device that produces combustion gases.

(j) Any person installing a carbon monoxide detector in a residential unit shall inform the owner, lessor, or the occupant or occupants of the residential unit of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and instructions on the operation of the installed carbon monoxide detector.

(k) When repair or maintenance work is undertaken on a fuel-burning heating or cooking source or a venting system in an existing residential unit, the person making the repair or performing the maintenance shall inform the owner, lessor, or the occupant or occupants of the unit being served by the fuel-burning heating or cooking source or venting system of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and recommend the installation of a carbon monoxide detector.

(l) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, for a first offense, shall be fined $250. For a second offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined $750. For a third and subsequent offenses, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined $2000.

(m) A violation of this section may not be considered to constitute evidence of negligence or contributory negligence or comparative negligence in any civil action or proceeding for damages.

(n) A violation of this section may not constitute a defense in any civil action or proceeding involving any insurance policy.

(o) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of any political subdivision in this state to enact laws imposing upon owners of any dwelling or other building described in subsection (a) or (f) of this section a greater duty with regard to the installation, repair, and replacement of the smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors than is required by this section.

CHAPTER 52. JURIES.


ARTICLE 1. PETIT JURIES.


52-1-8. Disqualification from jury service.

(a) The court, shall determine whether any prospective juror is disqualified for jury service on the basis of information provided on the juror qualification form or interview with the prospective juror or other competent evidence. The clerk shall enter this determination in the space provided on the juror qualification form and on the alphabetical lists of names drawn from the jury wheel or jury box.

(b) A prospective juror is disqualified to serve on a jury if the prospective juror:

(1) Is not a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old and a resident of the county;

(2) Is unable to read, speak and understand the English language. For the purposes of this section, the requirement of speaking and understanding the English language is met by the ability to communicate in American Sign Language or Signed English;

(3) Is incapable, by reason of substantial physical or mental disability, of rendering satisfactory jury service. A person claiming this disqualification may be required to submit a physician's certificate as to the disability and the certifying physician is subject to inquiry by the court at its discretion;

(4) Has, within the preceding two years, been summoned to serve as a petit juror, grand juror or magistrate court juror and has attended sessions of the magistrate or circuit court and been reimbursed for his or her expenses as a juror pursuant to the provisions of §52-1-21 or §52‑2‑13 of this code, or pursuant to an applicable rule or regulation of the Supreme Court of Appeals promulgated pursuant to the provisions of §50-5-8 of this code;

(5) Has lost the right to vote because of a criminal conviction; or

(6) Has been convicted of perjury, false swearing or any crime punishable by imprisonment in excess of one year under the applicable law of this state, another state or the United States.

(c) A prospective juror 70 years of age or older is not disqualified from serving but shall be excused from service by the court upon his or her request.

(d) A prospective grand juror is disqualified to serve on a grand jury if he or she is an officeholder under the laws of the United States or of this state except that the term “officeholder” does not include, notaries public.

(e) A person who is physically disabled and can render competent service with reasonable accommodation is not ineligible to act as juror and may not be dismissed from a jury panel on the basis of disability alone. The circuit judge shall, upon motion by either party or upon his or her own motion, disqualify a disabled juror if the circuit judge finds that the nature of potential evidence in the case including, but not limited to, the type or volume of exhibits or the disabled juror's ability to evaluate a witness or witnesses, unduly inhibits the disabled juror's ability to evaluate the potential evidence. For purposes of this section:

(1) Reasonable accommodation includes, but is not limited to, certified interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing, spokespersons for the speech impaired, real-time court reporting and readers for the visually impaired.

(2) The court shall administer an oath or affirmation to any person present to facilitate communication for a disabled juror. The substance of the oath or affirmation shall be that any person present as an accommodation to a disabled juror will not deliberate on his or her own behalf, although present throughout the proceedings, but act only to accurately communicate for and to the disabled juror.

(f) Nothing in this article limits a party's right to preemptory strikes in civil or criminal actions.

CHAPTER 57. EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES.


ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.


§57-5-7. Interpreters required.

(a) In any court proceeding wherein a party or witness or juror cannot readily understand or verbally communicate the English language because the witness or juror is deaf or because of any other hearing difficulties, such person shall have the right to have a qualified interpreter to assist the witness or juror at every stage of the proceeding. Such right shall also pertain in any proceeding before administrative boards, commissions or agencies of this state or any political subdivision or municipality thereof, and in coroners' inquests and grand jury proceedings.

(b) The director of the administrative office of the Supreme Court of Appeals shall establish a program to facilitate the use of interpreters in courts of this state and in extra-judicial criminal proceedings as provided for in this section.

(1) The director shall prescribe, determine and certify the qualifications of persons who may serve as certified interpreters in courts of this state in proceedings involving the deaf and hard of hearing. Persons certified by the director shall be interpreters certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf, or the West Virginia registry of interpreters for the deaf or approved by the chief of services for the deaf and hard of hearing of West Virginia of the West Virginia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or shall be such other persons deemed by the director to be qualified by education, training and experience. The director shall maintain a current master list of all interpreters certified by the director and shall report annually on the frequency of requests for, and the use and effectiveness of, interpreters.

(2) Each circuit court shall maintain on file in the office of the clerk of the court a list of all persons who have been certified as oral or manual interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing by the director of the administrative office of the Supreme Court of Appeals in accordance with the certification program established pursuant to this section.

(3) In any criminal or juvenile proceeding, or other proceeding described in §51-11-5 of this code, the judge of the circuit court in which such proceeding is pending, or, if such proceeding is in a magistrate court, then the judge of the circuit court to which such proceeding may be appealed or presented for judicial review, shall, with the assistance of the director of the administrative office of the Supreme Court of Appeals, utilize the services of the most available certified interpreter, or when no certified interpreter is reasonably available, as determined by the judge, the services of an otherwise competent interpreter, if the judge determines on his or her own motion or on the motion of a party that such party or a witness who may present testimony in the proceeding suffers from hearing difficulties so as to inhibit such party's comprehension of the proceedings or communication with counsel or the presiding judicial officer, or so as to inhibit such witness' comprehension of questions and the presentation of such testimony. The utilization of an interpreter shall be appropriate at any stage of the proceeding, judicial or extra-judicial, at which a person would be entitled to representation by an attorney and a waiver of the right to counsel shall not constitute a waiver of the right to an interpreter as provided for by this section.

(c) Whenever a qualified interpreter is appointed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, or to accommodate a juror, the court shall, at the conclusion of the proceedings or interrogation, by order, fix the compensation of such interpreter. The compensation shall include reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of such duties, but expenses shall not be incurred in excess of the prevailing rate for state employees. In all such appointments arising from subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section, the compensation shall be paid by the State Auditor from the fund administered by the Supreme Court of Appeals for other court costs. In other proceedings before any circuit or magistrate court, Supreme Court of Appeals or before any administrative boards, commissions and agencies, the compensation shall be fixed by such court, board, commission or agency and paid, within the limit of available funds, by such court, board, commission or agency.

(d) In any proceeding described in subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section, if the circuit judge does not appoint an interpreter, an individual requiring the services of an interpreter may seek the assistance of the clerk of the circuit court or the director of the administrative office of the Supreme Court of Appeals in obtaining the assistance of a certified interpreter.

(e) Whenever an interpreter is necessary in any court proceeding because a witness or party speaks only a foreign language or for any other reason, an interpreter shall be sworn truly to interpret.

 

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