PRINTER'S NO. 2610
No. 1999 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY JOHNSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, CAPPABIANCA, GEIST,
BELFANTI, VROON, MELIO, HERSHEY, DIETTERICK, SCHULER, PESCI,
ANGSTADT, HECKLER, JOSEPHS, TIGUE, VEON, JACKSON, NAHILL,
RUDY, KUKOVICH, BILLOW, O'BRIEN, BELARDI, SAURMAN, McHALE,
ITKIN, MAINE, DORR, SERAFINI, OLASZ AND FOX, OCTOBER 16, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 16, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for
3 interpreters for deaf persons selected as jurors.
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 § 4566. Interpreters for the deaf.
9 (a) General rule.--In any civil or criminal proceeding in
10 which a deaf person is selected to serve as a juror the court
11 shall appoint an interpreter to assist the deaf person
12 throughout the proceeding. The interpreter shall be paid for his
13 services in the same manner as other appointed personnel of the
14 system are compensated.
15 (b) Oath.--The interpreter shall swear or affirm that he
16 will make a true interpretation to the deaf person and that he
17 will repeat the statements of the deaf person to the best of his
1 ability.
2 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
3 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
4 subsection:
5 "Deaf." Persons who are deaf or whose hearing is so impaired
6 that they are unable to understand or communicate the spoken
7 English language.
8 "Interpreter." A person qualified and trained to translate
9 for or communicate with deaf persons. Any person certified by
10 the National or Local Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or
11 similar registry shall be considered qualified for the purposes
12 of this section.
13 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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