SPONSOR: Parker
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Judiciary by a vote of 9 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 0.
Currently, an interpreter's or translator's fees and expenses in a criminal proceeding are payable by the State from funds appropriated for that purpose. This bill allows such fees and expenses in any civil, juvenile, or criminal proceeding to be paid by the State from the appropriated funds.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this revises the section related to interpreters and translators. Translators are allowed in all cases but they are paid for in criminal cases, so this would allow them to get paid in all cases. They want people who have limited English skills to have the same rights afforded to them and to have the same fair trials. This is especially important for juveniles who are standing trial. This is meant to start a conversation to figure out how much the interpreters should be paid.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Parker; Missouri Catholic Conference; Eric Jennings, Judicial Conference of Missouri; and Arnie C. Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: