563 - Appointment of interpreter. - Pennsylvania Statutes

§ 563. Appointment of interpreter. (a) Appointment of certified interpreter.--Upon request or sua sponte, a presiding officer shall appoint a certified interpreter, unless a certified interpreter is unavailable as provided in subsection (b). (b) Appointment of otherwise qualified interpreter when certified interpreter is unavailable.-- (1) An otherwise qualified interpreter shall be appointed by the presiding officer if a good faith effort was made to obtain a certified interpreter and a certified interpreter was not reasonably available, as determined by the presiding officer. (2) Prior to the appointment of an otherwise qualified interpreter, the presiding officer shall state on the record that the otherwise qualified interpreter: (i) is readily able to interpret; and (ii) has read, understands and agrees to abide by the code of professional conduct for administrative proceeding interpreters for persons with limited English proficiency, as established by the department. (c) Additional interpreters.--After consideration of the length of the administrative proceeding and the number of persons with limited English proficiency involved, a presiding officer may appoint, as provided in subsections (a) and (b), an additional interpreter or provide for additional interpretation in a manner deemed appropriate by the presiding officer.