Sec. 531.706. DUTIES

(a) The advisory committee shall establish and recommend qualifications for health care interpreters and health care translators that include:

(1) for a person to be qualified as a health care translator, requiring the person to:

(A) fluently understand a written foreign language and demonstrate the ability to accurately translate messages communicated in that language into English and to accurately translate messages communicated in English into that language; and

(B) have practical experience as a translator or hold professional certification as a translator; and

(2) for a person to be qualified as a health care interpreter, requiring the person to:

(A) fluently understand a spoken foreign language and demonstrate the ability to accurately interpret messages communicated in that language into English and to interpret messages communicated in English into that language; and

(B) have practical experience as an interpreter or hold professional certification or licensure as an interpreter.

(b) The advisory committee shall advise the commission on:

(1) the language proficiency required for certification as a health care interpreter or health care translator;

(2) training requirements for health care interpreters and health care translators;

(3) standards of practice for health care interpreters and health care translators;

(4) the requirements, content, and administration of certification examinations for health care interpreters and health care translators;

(5) the procedures for testing, qualifying, and certifying health care interpreters and health care translators; and

(6) reciprocity agreements with other states.

(c) The advisory committee shall:

(1) develop strategies for implementing the regulation of health care interpreters and health care translators;

(2) make recommendations to the commission for any legislation necessary to establish and enforce qualifications for health care interpreters and health care translators or for the adoption of rules by state agencies regulating health care practitioners, hospitals, physician offices, and health care facilities that hire health care interpreters or health care translators; and

(3) perform other activities assigned by the commission related to health care interpreters or health care translators.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 293 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.