PRINTER'S NO. 865
No. 750 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY ZEMPRELLI, FISHER, SCANLON, LLOYD, ROSS AND
SINGEL, MAY 12, 1983
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MAY 12, 1983
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for
3 interpreters for certain deaf persons in civil proceedings.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 7103. Interpreters for the deaf.
9 (a) General rule.--In any civil proceeding in which a party
10 is deaf the court may appoint an interpreter to assist the party
11 throughout the trial proceedings. Disposition of costs shall be
12 in discretion of the court.
13 (b) Oath.--The interpreter shall swear or affirm that he
14 will make a true interpretation to the deaf person and that he
15 will repeat the statements of the deaf person to the best of his
16 ability.
17 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section the following
18 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
1 subsection:
2 "Deaf." Persons who are deaf or whose hearing is so impaired
3 that they are unable to understand or communicate the spoken
4 English language.
5 "Interpreter." A person qualified and trained to translate
6 for or communicate with deaf persons. Any person certified by
7 the National or Local Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or
8 similar registry shall be considered qualified for the purposes
9 of this section.
10 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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