H*4942 (Rat #0524, Act #0390 of 1998) General Bill, By Lee, Davenport and F. Smith
    A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 17-1-50, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN A CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCEEDING, WHENEVER A PARTY OR A WITNESS TO THE PROCEEDING DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPEAK ENGLISH TO TESTIFY, THEN THE COURT MUST APPOINT A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER TO INTERPRET THE PROCEEDINGS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE PARTY OR WITNESS OR WAIVE THE USE OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER IF IT FINDS ON THE RECORD THAT THE WAIVER IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARTY OR WITNESS AND THAT THIS ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF JUSTICE, TO DEFINE "QUALIFIED INTERPRETER", TO PROVIDE THAT AN INTERPRETER SHALL NOT BE A PERSON CONFINED IN AN INSTITUTION, TO PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT FOR INTERPRETING SERVICES, TO PROVIDE FOR A CENTRALIZED LIST OF QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS WHO DO NOT APPEAR ON THE CENTRALIZED LIST; BY ADDING SECTION 15-27-155 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN A CIVIL LEGAL PROCEEDING, WHENEVER A PARTY OR A WITNESS TO THE PROCEEDING DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPEAK ENGLISH TO TESTIFY, THE COURT MAY APPOINT A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER TO INTERPRET THE PROCEEDINGS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE PARTY OR WITNESS, OR WAIVE THE USE OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER IF IT FINDS ON THE RECORD THAT THE WAIVER IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARTY OR WITNESS AND THAT THIS ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF JUSTICE, TO DEFINE "QUALIFIED INTERPRETER", TO PROVIDE THAT AN INTERPRETER SHALL NOT BE A PERSON CONFINED IN AN INSTITUTION, TO PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT FOR INTERPRETING SERVICE, TO PROVIDE FOR A CENTRALIZED LIST OF QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS WHO DO NOT APPEAR ON THE CENTRALIZED LIST; AND TO AMEND SECTION 15-27-15, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO INTERPRETERS FOR A DEAF PERSON WHO IS A PARTY OR A WITNESS TO A LEGAL PROCEEDING, OR WHO IS CONFINED TO AN INSTITUTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SHALL DETERMINE A REASONABLE FEE FOR INTERPRETING SERVICES.-AMENDED TITLE
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04/02/98	House	Introduced and read first time HJ-3
04/02/98	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-3
04/29/98	House	Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary HJ-3
04/30/98	House	Amended HJ-16
04/30/98	House	Read second time HJ-17
04/30/98	House	Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day HJ-17
05/01/98	House	Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
05/05/98	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-11
05/05/98	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-11
05/27/98	Senate	Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary SJ-21
05/28/98	Senate	Amended SJ-55
05/28/98	Senate	Read second time SJ-55
05/28/98	Senate	Ordered to third reading with notice of amendments SJ-55
06/03/98	Senate	Amended
06/03/98	Senate	Read third time and returned to House with amendments
06/04/98	House	Senate amendment amended HJ-21
06/04/98	House	Returned to Senate with amendments HJ-21
06/04/98	Senate	Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-45
06/10/98		Ratified R 524
06/15/98		Signed By Governor
06/23/98		Effective date 06/15/98
06/23/98		Copies available
06/30/98		Act No. 390