§ 339 - Communications made to interpreters; prohibition on disclosure - Vermont Statutes

§ 339. Communications made to interpreters; prohibition on disclosure TITLE 1General ProvisionsCHAPTER 5. COMMON LAW; GENERAL RIGHTSSubchapter V. Interpreters for Judicial, Administrative and Legislative Proceedings

§ 339. Communications made to interpreters; prohibition on disclosure

(a) An interpreter, whether or not the interpreter is a qualified interpreter, shall not disclose or testify to:

(1) a communication made by a person to an interpreter acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a deaf or hard of hearing person or a person with limited English proficiency; or

(2) any information obtained by the interpreter while acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a deaf or hard of hearing person or a person with limited English proficiency.

(b) There is no prohibition on disclosure under this section if the services of the interpreter were sought or obtained to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit what the deaf or hard of hearing person or the person with limited English proficiency knew or reasonably should have known to be a crime or fraud.

(c)(1) This section shall not be construed to limit or expand the effect of section 334 of this title.

(2) This section shall not be construed to alter or affect the mandatory reporting requirements of section 4913 of Title 33.

(d) As used in this section, "person with limited English proficiency" means a person who does not speak English as his or her primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. (Added 2003, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 20, 2006.)