The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to improve access to legal proceedings for individuals with limited English proficiency and hearing impairments. It introduces the term "credentialed interpreter," replacing "certified interpreter," and establishes a credentialing program for spoken language interpreters managed by the administrative office of the courts. Credentialed interpreters must be appointed in legal proceedings involving individuals with limited English proficiency unless there is documented good cause for using a non-credentialed interpreter. The bill also clarifies the definition of legal proceedings and the rights of individuals regarding interpreter services, ensuring that they are not responsible for interpreter costs in specific legal situations.

Additionally, the legislation mandates that trial courts develop and maintain a written language access plan, which includes procedures for identifying language needs and appointing interpreters. Courts are required to submit these plans to the administrative office of the courts every two years starting January 1, 2026, and provide translated information on their websites about access to language services. The bill also emphasizes the need for qualified interpreters for hearing-impaired individuals in judicial proceedings and modifies existing provisions to ensure funding is available for interpreter costs. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the legal rights and protections for non-English-speaking individuals and those with hearing impairments in Washington State's court system.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120
Substitute Bill: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120
Second Substitute: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120
Engrossed Second Substitute: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120
Bill as Passed Legislature: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120
Session Law: 2.43.010, 2.43.030, 2.43.050, 2.43.060, 2.43.080, 2.43.070, 2.43.040, 2.43.090, 2.56.030, 13.04.043, 2.42.120